Submitted by Administrator on Thu, 12/12/2013 - 14:27
27 September 2010
The American Association of immunologists (AAI) Journal of Immunology recognises the earlier work of Professor Chris Rudd on CD4-lck as a "Pillar Publication" in the field of immunology this month.
The AAI has been recognising key papers that serve as the foundation of the fields of immunology and infection. T cells form a central arm of the immune system in the response of T against foreign pathogens, and when inappropriately activated, are responsible for the development of autoimmunity. Following the discovery of the antigen-receptor (TCR) on the surface of T-cells, a major remaining issue was to uncover the signalling mechanism by which the TCR activates the T-cell to divide and respond to the foreign agents. Professor Rudd first uncovered this pathway by identifying that the co-receptors CD4 and CD8 bind to an intracellular tyrosine kinase called p56lck, and that these complexes initiate signalling by phosphorylating the TCR. These findings led to the discovery of an second kinase termed ZAP-70 and an array of downstream tyrosine phosphorylated substrates that have served as the mainstay of our understanding of the molecular basis of T-cell function.
Read more here