ID:CD8A_HUMAN DESCRIPTION: RecName: Full=T-cell surface glycoprotein CD8 alpha chain; AltName: Full=T-lymphocyte differentiation antigen T8/Leu-2; AltName: CD_antigen=CD8a; Flags: Precursor; FUNCTION: Identifies cytotoxic/suppressor T-cells that interact with MHC class I bearing targets. CD8 is thought to play a role in the process of T-cell mediated killing. CD8 alpha chains binds to class I MHC molecules alpha-3 domains. SUBUNIT: In general heterodimer of an alpha and a beta chain linked by two disulfide bonds. Can also form homodimers. Shown to be expressed as heterodimer on thymocytes and as homodimer on peripheral blood T-lymphocytes. Interacts with the MHC class I HLA-A/B2M dimer. Interacts with LCK in a zinc-dependent manner. SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Isoform 1: Cell membrane; Single-pass type I membrane protein. SUBCELLULAR LOCATION: Isoform 2: Secreted. PTM: All of the five most C-terminal cysteines form inter-chain disulfide bonds in dimers and higher multimers, while the four N- terminal cysteines do not (By similarity). DISEASE: Defects in CD8A are a cause of familial CD8 deficiency (CD8 deficiency) [MIM:608957]. Familial CD8 deficiency is a novel autosomal recessive immunologic defect characterized by absence of CD8+ cells, leading to recurrent bacterial infections. SIMILARITY: Contains 1 Ig-like V-type (immunoglobulin-like) domain. WEB RESOURCE: Name=CD8Abase; Note=CD8A mutation db; URL="http://bioinf.uta.fi/CD8Abase/"; WEB RESOURCE: Name=Wikipedia; Note=CD8 entry; URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD8";
Protein Domain and Structure Information
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