Transition from TCR-beta dimer to TCR-alpha beta-expressing cells by introduction of an alpha-chain in an immature thymocyte cell line.

The molecular basis for the surface expression of TCR-beta chain in the absence of association with TCR-alpha, -gamma, or -delta chain by an immature thymocyte cell line was investigated. The TCR-beta chain expressed by this cell line was not encoded by any unique DNA sequence, nor was it inserted into the membrane via a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol linkage. Transfection of two other beta-chains derived from mature T cell clones resulted in the surface expression of dimers of the transfected beta-chains in both cases. Immunoprecipitation of the beta-dimer-CD3 complex demonstrated that the association of the beta-dimer with the CD3 complex, especially the CD3 zeta chain, was so weak that they dissociated under the detergent conditions in which the TCR-CD3 complex of mature T cells is kept intact. Transfection of TCR-alpha chain resulted in the expression of a TCR-alpha beta-CD3 complex and the disappearance of beta-dimers. In accordance with the changes in TCR complex components, the association between TCR-alpha beta and CD3 complex became stable and the cells transduced signals more efficiently. The results demonstrate that the expression of TCR-beta as part of an incomplete TCR-CD3 complex is developmentally regulated and the expression of TCR-alpha chain results in normal configuration and function of TCR complex.