STRUCTURE-FUNCTION-RELATIONSHIPS AMONG HIGHLY DIVERSE T-CELLS THAT RECOGNIZE A DETERMINANT FROM INFLUENZA-VIRUS HEMAGGLUTININ

We have analyzed the structural and genetic basis for T cell recognition of the complex formed between antigen and class II products of the major histocompatibility complex by performing sequence analysis of T cell receptors (TCRs) induced in response to the helper T cell site 1 of the influenza virus hemagglutinin. The results demonstrate, first, that structurally highly diverse TCRs can be utilized in recognition of the same antigen/I-Ed complex: 12 of 13 TCRs utilize unique Vα/Vβ gene segment combinations, suggesting that ∼70 different Vα/Vβ combinations are available to BALB/c mice in response to this determinant. Second, comparison ofthese sequences with the ability of each hybridoma to recognize a panel of peptide analogues suggests that α and β chains of these TCRs frequently determine specificity for the NH2-terminal and the COOH terminal portions, respectively, of the site 1 determinant. © 1990, Rockefeller University Press., All rights reserved.