The T cell receptor (TCR) complex consists of eight transmembrane chains that are expressed on the surface of T cells. The TCRα and TCRβ chains bind antigenic peptide when presented to them in the contact of MHC (major histocompatibility) molecules. The other six chains form the CD3 complex and consist of CD3γ which forms a heterodimer with CD3ɛ, CD3δ which also forms a heterodimer with CD3ɛ and a homodimer of CD3ɛ. The CD3 chains are the targets for kinase phosphorylation. It is the CD3 complex that propagates the signal from the TCR complex to downstream signaling cascades.
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(2016). T Cell Receptor (TCR) Complex. In: Vohr, HW. (eds) Encyclopedia of Immunotoxicology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54596-2_201426
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