Antibody-like recognition of a γδ T cell receptor toward a foreign antigen

The antigen recognition principles of B cells and αβ T cells have been well described compared to those of the γδ T cell. By way of their specificity conferring receptor (γδTCR), γδ T cells can directly bind proteinaceous antigens. A known γδ T cell and B cell model antigen is phycoerythrin (PE), a light harvesting protein from rhodophytes and cyanobacteria. Here we probed human γδTCR reactivity to PE, in which a Vδ1Vγ5 TCR bound directly to induce proximal signaling and cellular activation. We determined the cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the γδTCR-phycoerythrin immune complex. We then determined the cryo-EM structures of an antibody fragment and an αβTCR bound to PE. This revealed convergent use of apical aromatic residues to mediate contacts with a common PE epitope. Comparative analyses of the γδTCR revealed multiple antibody-like characteristics, including an enrichment of apical aromatic residues. Our findings reveal further distinct facets of antigen recognition by the γδTCR.