An X-ray crystallographic investigation into the structural basis of T-cell allorecognition

X射线晶体学是解决蛋白质三维（3-D）结构的重要工具。蛋白质控制细胞内的生物过程，正是蛋白质的确切形状决定了它们如何发挥作用。每一种蛋白质都像一串珠子一样，其构建单位是氨基酸。根据氨基酸的顺序，蛋白质分子弯曲并形成独特的复杂形状。这种三维形状使其能够特异性地与碳水化合物，其他蛋白质（如酶或受体），甚至与DNA等分子相互作用，以发挥其作用。为了确定蛋白质的作用方式，在原子水平上了解蛋白质的精确三维形状至关重要。这项工作的重点是了解控制免疫系统的蛋白质的精确形状。免疫系统是一个生命过程，个人可以借此抵御疾病。这项工作将进一步加深我们对免疫系统的了解。

X-ray crystallography is an essential tool for solving the three-dimensional (3-D) structure of proteins. Proteins control the biological processes within the cell and it is the exact shape of proteins that determines how they function. Each protein is made up like a string of beads, with the building units being amino acids. Depending on the sequence of the amino acids, the protein molecule bends and forms a distinct, complex shape. This three dimensional shape allows it to specifically interact with carbohydrates, other proteins, such as enzymes or receptors, or even with molecules like DNA, to have its effect. To determine how a protein acts, it is vital to know the precise three-dimensional shape of a protein at the atomic level. This work is focused on understanding the precise shape of proteins that control the immune system. The immune system is avital process whereby individuals can fight off disease. This work will further our understanding of the immune system.