[BK세미나] 7/28(월) 황원묵 교수(Texas A&M University) "Mechanical Regulation of T-cell Receptors"

기계공학부 구성원들의 많은 관심과 참여 부탁드립니다.

▣ 주 제: Mechanical Regulation of T-cell Receptors

▣ 연 사: 황원묵 교수

▣ 소 속: Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University

▣ 일 시: 2025. 7. 28.(월) 13:00

▣ 장 소: 제4공학관 D403호

▣ 초 청: 이형석 교수

▣ 초 록

αβ T cells are a central component of the adaptive immune system. They recognize target ligands, antigenic peptide-loaded major histocompatibility complex molecules (pMHCs), displayed on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) with exquisite specificity and sensitivity via the αβ T-cell receptors (TCRs). Recent experimental advances have shown that TCRs are mechanosensors such that picoNewton-level forces generated between a T cell and an APC activate a catch bond formation in a ligand-dependent manner. Our all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of different TCR-pMHC complexes under various loading conditions have shown that the catch bond formation and peptide discrimination occur through load-dependent stabilization of TCR subdomain motion, which also allosterically controls the TCR-pMHC binding. We further show how this principle applies to various situations such as agonist versus antagonist responses determined by a single amino acid mutation, and differential responses of two TCRs recognizing the same pMHC ligand. In addition to providing insights into the TCR mechanism, these results have implications in designing TCR-based immunotherapy.