# T-CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTOR:  FUNCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

> **NIH NIH R01** · HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL · 1988 · $216,242

## Abstract

T-cells specifically recognize their target antigens because they
have antigen receptors on their surfaces.  Two antigen receptors
have been defined.  Each of these receptors is though to consist
of two immunoglobulin-like polypeptides (alpha and beta or delta
and gamma) and they are designated the alpha-beta and delta-
gamma receptors respectively.  A central concept in our
understanding of the interaction between normal T-cells and
their target antigens is that the alpha-beta receptor recognizes a
foreign antigen in the context of a polymorphic MHC antigen.
However, T-cells bearing the delta-gamma receptor appear to be
able to recognize target cells in an MHC non-restricted fashion.
That is, the delta-gamma receptor does not appear to recognized
it antigen in the context of a particular MHC molecule.
Eventually we would like to understand how these receptors
react with antigens.  Furthermore, the delta chain gene
rearranges early during the development of a particular T-cell.
We propose that expression of a functional delta-gamma chain
prevents further T-cell maturation.  We propose here to
characterize the genes encoding the delta chain and to
reconstitute both alpha-beta and delta-gamma receptors in both
transformed T-cells and transgenic mice and to use these new
reagents to address these issues.  Specifically we propose to:  1)
clone a cDNA encoding the delta chain of the delta-gamma
receptor.  2) Characterize the genes encoding this chain.  3)
Clone and express genes encoding alpha and beta chains from
receptors with known function.  4) Make transgenic mice that
express the clone delta, alpha, and beta chain genes.  5)
Determine the effect of the expressed transgene on the
development of the T-cell repertoire in these mice.  6) To make
transgenic mice that express functional T-cell receptors and to
examine the effect of these receptors on the development of the
T-cell repertoire.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3128548
- **Project number:** 5R01AI019148-07
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
- **SAM.gov UEI:** JDLVAVGYJQ21
- **Principal Investigator:** JONATHAN G SEIDMAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $216,242
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1982-07-01 → 1992-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3128548

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3128548, T-CELL ANTIGEN RECEPTOR:  FUNCTION AND DEVELOPMENT (5R01AI019148-07). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3128548. Licensed CC0.

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