Gras, StephanieVan Rhijn, IldikoShahine, AdamCheng, Tan-YunBhati, MugdhaTan, Li LynnHalim, HanimTuttle, Kathryn D.Gapin, LaurentLe Nours, JérômeMoody, DavidRossjohn, Jamie2016-12-022016Gras, S., I. Van Rhijn, A. Shahine, T. Cheng, M. Bhati, L. L. Tan, H. Halim, et al. 2016. “T cell receptor recognition of CD1b presenting a mycobacterial glycolipid.” Nature Communications 7 (1): 13257. doi:10.1038/ncomms13257. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13257.2041-1723http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:29626065CD1 proteins present microbial lipids to T cells. Germline-encoded mycolyl lipid-reactive (GEM) T cells with conserved αβ T cell receptors (TCRs) recognize CD1b presenting mycobacterial mycolates. As the molecular basis underpinning TCR recognition of CD1b remains unknown, here we determine the structure of a GEM TCR bound to CD1b presenting glucose-6-O-monomycolate (GMM). The GEM TCR docks centrally above CD1b, whereby the conserved TCR α-chain extensively contacts CD1b and GMM. Through mutagenesis and study of T cells from tuberculosis patients, we identify a consensus CD1b footprint of TCRs present among GEM T cells. Using both the TCR α- and β-chains as tweezers to surround and grip the glucose moiety of GMM, GEM TCRs create a highly specific mechanism for recognizing this mycobacterial glycolipid.en-USJournal Article2016-12-0210.1038/ncomms13257