Primary Citation of Related Structures:   1ZHN
PubMed Abstract: 
NKT cells are immunoregulatory lymphocytes whose activation is triggered by the recognition of lipid Ags in the context of the CD1d molecules by the TCR. In this study we present the crystal structure to 2.8 A of mouse CD1d bound to phosphatidylcholine. The interactions between the ligand acyl chains and the CD1d molecule define the structural and chemical requirements for the binding of lipid Ags to CD1d ...
NKT cells are immunoregulatory lymphocytes whose activation is triggered by the recognition of lipid Ags in the context of the CD1d molecules by the TCR. In this study we present the crystal structure to 2.8 A of mouse CD1d bound to phosphatidylcholine. The interactions between the ligand acyl chains and the CD1d molecule define the structural and chemical requirements for the binding of lipid Ags to CD1d. The orientation of the polar headgroup toward the C terminus of the alpha1 helix provides a rationale for the structural basis for the observed Valpha chain bias in invariant NKT cells. The contribution of the ligand to the protein surface suggests a likely mode of recognition of lipid Ags by the NKT cell TCR.
Related Citations: 
Crystal structure of mouse CD1: An MHC-like fold with a large hydrophobic binding groove Zeng, Z., Castano, A.R., Segelke, B.W., Stura, E.A., Peterson, P.A., Wilson, I.A. (1997) Science 277: 339
Organizational Affiliation: 
Biocrystallography Unit and Mass Spectrometry Unit, DIBIT San Raffaele Scientific Institute, via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy.
7-[(DODECANOYLOXY)METHYL]-4-HYDROXY-N,N,N-TRIMETHYL-9-OXO-3,5,8-TRIOXA-4-PHOSPHADOTRIACONTAN-1-AMINIUM 4-OXIDE C45 H90 N O8 P KWHAREAUZBVBDS-VZUYHUTRSA-N