MODELING Immunological Synapse Regulation

The immunological synapse coordinates intercellular communication between T cells and antigen-presenting cells, but the signaling functions of this structure have not been clear. Experiments and computer modeling have led Lee et al. to propose that T cell receptor (TCR) clustering in the synapse enhances receptor signaling but also potentiates a higher rate of TCR degradation--a type of adaptive control function that regulates the strength and duration of T cell signaling in response to a specific ligand.

K.-H. Lee, A. R. Dinner, C. Tu, G. Campi, S. Raychaudhuri, R. Varma, T. N. Sims, W. R. Burack, H. Wu, J. Wang, O. Kanagawa, M. Markiewicz, P. M. Allen, M. L. Dustin, A. K. Chakraborty, A. S. Shaw, The immunological synapse balances T cell receptor signaling and degradation. Science 302, 1218-1222 (2003). [Abstract] [Full Text]

The editors suggest the following Related Resources on Science sites:

In Science Signaling

PERSPECTIVES
CTLA-4 Negative Signaling via Lipid Rafts: A New Perspective

Christopher E. Rudd, Margarita Martín, and Helga Schneider (16 April 2002)
Sci. STKE 2002 (128), pe18. [DOI: 10.1126/stke.2002.128.pe18]
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

PERSPECTIVES
How and Why Does the Immunological Synapse Form? Physical Chemistry Meets Cell Biology

Arup K. Chakraborty (5 March 2002)
Sci. STKE 2002 (122), pe10. [DOI: 10.1126/stke.2002.122.pe10]
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »