Ligand-specific oligomerization of T-cell receptor molecules

It is possible to use quasi-elastic light scattering to demonstrate that TCR/peptide major histocompatability complex (MHC) molecules oligomerize in solution to form supramolecular structures where MHC molecules bound to a full agonist peptide are present. This reaction takes place at concentrations near the dissociation constant of the binding reaction. It provides clear proof for models of T-cell signalling based on the specific assembly of multiple TC/peptide-MHC complexes where the extent of assembly has an influence on the scope and qualitative nature of the transduced signal.