Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol 159, 1096-1104, Copyright © 1984 by Rockefeller University Press
Functional roles of two polypeptide chains that compose an antigen- specific suppressor T cell factor
M Taniguchi, T Tokuhisa, T Itoh and M Kanno
The functional roles of the two polypeptide chains that compose the T cell
suppressor factor (TsF) that mediates the antigen-specific and genetically
restricted suppressor function were studied by using the heavy or light
chains isolated from the conventional TsF or the 11S and 13S mRNA
translation products of TsF. Either the heavy or the light chain of mRNA
translation products reconstitutes the active TsF that suppresses the
antibody response in an antigen-specific and genetically restricted manner
when it is combined with the isolated heavy or light chain from the
conventional TsF. As a consequence, the antigen-binding heavy chain
mediates the antigen specificity of TsF. On the other hand, the
I-J-positive light chain works as an element to determine the genetic
restriction specificity. Thus, the identity of the histocompatibility
between the I-J haplotypes on the light chain and the responding cell is
essential for the functional expression of TsF. No genetic preference,
however, was observed, in the association of the heavy and light chains of
TsF.