> I wondered if the T-cell receptor was part of the immunoglobulin
> superfamily or if it was just Ig-like as many textbooks suggest.
>> Given that its structure is very similar to antibody Fab regions and
> that its genes rearrange in practically the same way as those of
> antibodies, if it isn't actually an immunoglobulin to what family does
> it belong to?
>> Thanks
> Fred
Rest assured -- the TCR is indeed a member in good standing of the Ig
superfamily (and undoubdtedly the most closely related member of any
non-immunoglobulin gene) -- even to the point of retaining similar
rearrangement signals at the flanks of the individual gene segments.
Cheers -- Dom Spinella