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Description

T-cell surface glycoprotein CD8 alpha chain (UniProt: P01731, also known as T-cell surface glycoprotein Lyt-2, CD8a) is encoded by the CD8a (also known as Lyt-2, Lyt2) gene (Gene ID: 12525) in murine species. CD8 alpha is a single-pass type I membrane glycoprotein that is synthesized with a signal peptide (aa 1-27), which is subsequently cleaved to form the mature protein that has an extracellular domain (aa 28-196), a helical domain (aa 197-217), and a cytoplasmic tail (aa 218-247). CD8 is generally present as a heterodimer of alpha and beta chains linked by two disulfide bonds, however, it can also form homodimers. The CD8 alpha/alpha homodimer is expressed on a subset of gamma/delta TCR-bearing T cells, NK cells, intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes, and lymphoid dendritic cells. CD8 plays a role in the process of T-cell mediated killing. CD8 alpha chains binds to class I MHC molecules alpha-3 domains. CD8 acts as a co-receptor for the T cell receptor (TCR) and like the TCR, it binds to class I MHC molecules displayed by antigen presenting cells (APC). CD8 is primarily expressed on the surface of cytotoxic T cells, but can also be found on thymocytes, natural killer cells, and some dendritic cell subsets.