Anti-Rat CD3 (APC Conjugated)[G4.18], clone G4.18

CD3 is a complex composed of delta, gamma, epsilon, and zeta chains. They are 20-25 kD members of the immunoglobulin superfamily and associated with the T cell receptor (TCR). CD3 is expressed on thymocytes, peripheral T cells, some NK-T cells, and dendritic epidermal T cells. CD3 is involved in antigen recognition, signal transduction, and T cell activation. Protein function: Part of the TCR-CD3 complex present on T-lymphocyte cell surface that plays an essential role in adaptive immune response. When antigen presenting cells (APCs) activate T-cell receptor (TCR), TCR- mediated signals are transmitted across the cell membrane by the CD3 chains CD3D, CD3E, CD3G and CD3Z. All CD3 chains contain immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) in their cytoplasmic domain. Upon TCR engagement, these motifs become phosphorylated by Src family protein tyrosine kinases LCK and FYN, resulting in the activation of downstream signaling pathways. In addition of this role of signal transduction in T-cell activation, CD3D plays an essential role in thymocyte differentiation. Indeed, participates in correct intracellular TCR-CD3 complex assembly and surface expression. In absence of a functional TCR-CD3 complex, thymocytes are unable to differentiate properly. Interacts with CD4 and CD8 and thus serves to establish a functional link between the TCR and coreceptors CD4 and CD8, which is needed for activation and positive selection of CD4 or CD8 T-cells. [The UniProt Consortium]