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Regulation of T‐cell receptor signalling by membrane microdomains
Author(s) -
Razzaq Tahir M.,
Ozegbe Patricia,
Jury Elizabeth C.,
Sembi Phupinder,
Blackwell Nathan M.,
Kabouridis Panagiotis S.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2004.01998.x
Subject(s) - lipid raft , microbiology and biotechnology , lipid microdomain , t cell receptor , biology , signal transduction , signalling , phosphorylation , proteomics , raft , membrane protein , function (biology) , receptor , effector , t cell , membrane , chemistry , biochemistry , immune system , immunology , organic chemistry , copolymer , gene , polymer
Summary There is now considerable evidence suggesting that the plasma membrane of mammalian cells is compartmentalized by functional lipid raft microdomains. These structures are assemblies of specialized lipids and proteins and have been implicated in diverse biological functions. Analysis of their protein content using proteomics and other methods revealed enrichment of signalling proteins, suggesting a role for these domains in intracellular signalling. In T lymphocytes, structure/function experiments and complementary pharmacological studies have shown that raft microdomains control the localization and function of proteins which are components of signalling pathways regulated by the T‐cell antigen receptor (TCR). Based on these studies, a model for TCR phosphorylation in lipid rafts is presented. However, despite substantial progress in the field, critical questions remain. For example, it is unclear if membrane rafts represent a homogeneous population and if their structure is modified upon TCR stimulation. In the future, proteomics and the parallel development of complementary analytical methods will undoubtedly contribute in further delineating the role of lipid rafts in signal transduction mechanisms.