Superantigen binding to TCR

T-Cell Receptor Beta Chain Complexed With Superantigen Seb

At present a wire frame image of the structure of the proteins is shown

The molecule can be rotated at any time by left clicking the mouse on the molecule and dragging the mouse with the left button depressed. Or you can switch on rotation using the buttons below.

Superantigens are not processed by a cell but bind to the class II MHC protein and to the V beta chain of the T cell
receptor. You can identify the two fragments of the TCR beta chain by changing them to spacefill or backbone using the buttons below. Note, the alpha chain does not interact with the superantigen. A given superantigen activates a distinct class of T cells that express a certain V beta chain.

To return to the original wire-frame structure, use the reload/refresh button on your browser.

Further changes and selection may be made using the Chime menu. Right click on the molecule to show the Chime menu.

Protein Data Bank entry here

	TCR beta chain - fragment 1 (dark blue) Backbone Space Fill Ribbons Wife frame	TCR beta chain - fragment 2 (green) Backbone Space Fill Ribbons Wife frame
	Staphyllococcus Enterotoxin (yellow) Backbone Space Fill Ribbons Wife frame	Staphyllococcus Enterotoxin (light blue) Backbone Space Fill Ribbons Wife frame

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