The Structure of the ζζ Transmembrane Dimer Reveals Features Essential for Its Assembly with the T Cell Receptor

Abstract

The T cell receptor (TCR) αβ heterodimer communicates ligand binding to the cell interior via noncovalently associated CD3γε, CD3δε, and ζζ dimers. While structures of extracellular components of the TCR-CD3 complex are known, the transmembrane (TM) domains that mediate assembly have eluded structural characterization. Incorporation of the ζζ signaling module is known to require one basic TCRα and two ζζ aspartic acid TM residues. We report the NMR structure of the ζζTM dimer, a left-handed coiled coil with substantial polar contacts. Mutagenesis experiments demonstrate that three polar positions are critical for ζζ dimerization and assembly with TCR. The two aspartic acids create a single s..