Functional nanoscale organization of signaling molecules downstream of the T cell antigen receptor

Eilon Sherman, Valarie Barr, Suliana Manley, George Patterson, Lakshmi Balagopalan, Itoro Akpan, Carole K. Regan, Robert K. Merrill, Connie L. Sommers, Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz, Lawrence E. Samelson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Receptor-regulated cellular signaling often is mediated by formation of transient, heterogeneous protein complexes of undefined structure. We used single and two-color photoactivated localization microscopy to study complexes downstream of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) in single-molecule detail at the plasma membrane of intact T cells. The kinase ZAP-70 distributed completely with the TCRζ chain and both partially mixed with the adaptor LAT in activated cells, thus showing localized activation of LAT by TCR-coupled ZAP-70. In resting and activated cells, LAT primarily resided in nanoscale clusters as small as dimers whose formation depended on protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions. Surprisingly, the adaptor SLP-76 localized to the periphery of LAT clusters. This nanoscale structure depended on polymerized actin and its disruption affected TCR-dependent cell function. These results extend our understanding of the mechanism of T cell activation and the formation and organization of TCR-mediated signaling complexes, findings also relevant to other receptor systems.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)705-720
Number of pages16
JournalImmunity
Volume35
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 23 Nov 2011
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

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