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  • 9628561918424814283551823120612039PublicAssets/3787T cells are white blood cells that are important in defending the body against bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. Each T cell carries proteins, called T-cell receptors, on its surface that are activated when they come in contact with an invader. This activation sets in motion a cascade of biochemical changes inside the T cell to mount a defense against the invasion. Scientists have been interested for some time what happens after a T-cell receptor is activated. One obstacle has been to study how this signaling cascade, or pathway, proceeds inside T cells. <Br><Br>In this image, researchers have created a T-cell receptor pathway consisting of 12 proteins outside the cell on an artificial membrane. The image shows two key steps during the signaling process: clustering of a protein called linker for activation of T cells (LAT) (blue) and polymerization of the cytoskeleton protein actin (red). The findings show that the T-cell receptor signaling proteins self-organize into separate physical and biochemical compartments. This new system of studying molecular pathways outside the cells will enable scientists to better understand how the immune system combats microbes or other agents that cause infection. <Br><Br>To learn more how researchers assembled this T-cell receptor pathway, see <a href="http://www.mbl.edu/blog/building-immunity-mbl-whitman-center-scientists-recreate-a-t-cell-receptor-signaling-pathway/">this press release from HHMI's Marine Biological Laboratory Whitman Center.</a> Related to <a href="/Pages/DetailPage.aspx?imageID2=3786">video 3786</a>.Xiaolei Su, HHMI Whitman Center of the Marine Biological LaboratoryXiaolei Su, HHMI Whitman Center of the Marine Biological LaboratoryPhotograph

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    CellsChemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology

    In vitro assembly of a cell-signaling pathway

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    T cells are white blood cells that are important in defending the body against bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. Each T cell carries proteins, called T-cell receptors, on its surface that are activated when they come in contact with an invader. This activation sets in motion a cascade of biochemical changes inside the T cell to mount a defense against the invasion. Scientists have been interested for some time what happens after a T-cell receptor is activated. One obstacle has been to study how this signaling cascade, or pathway, proceeds inside T cells.

    In this image, researchers have created a T-cell receptor pathway consisting of 12 proteins outside the cell on an artificial membrane. The image shows two key steps during the signaling process: clustering of a protein called linker for activation of T cells (LAT) (blue) and polymerization of the cytoskeleton protein actin (red). The findings show that the T-cell receptor signaling proteins self-organize into separate physical and biochemical compartments. This new system of studying molecular pathways outside the cells will enable scientists to better understand how the immune system combats microbes or other agents that cause infection.

    To learn more how researchers assembled this T-cell receptor pathway, see this press release from HHMI's Marine Biological Laboratory Whitman Center. Related to video 3786.

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    Xiaolei Su, HHMI Whitman Center of the Marine Biological Laboratory

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    Xiaolei Su, HHMI Whitman Center of the Marine Biological Laboratory

    Record Type

    Photograph

    ID

    3787

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