The T cell receptor - peptide-MHC interface is comprised of conserved and diverse regions, yet the relative contributions of each in shaping T cell recognition remain unclear. We isolated cross-reactive peptides with limited homology, allowing us to compare the structural properties of nine peptides for a single TCR-MHC pair. The TCR’s cross-reactivity is rooted in highly similar recognition of an apical ‘hotspot’ position in the peptide, while tolerating significant sequence variation at ancillary positions. Furthermore, we find a striking structural convergence onto a germline-mediated interaction between TCR CDR1α and the MHC α2 helix of twelve TCR-pMHC complexes. Our studies suggest that TCR-MHC germline-mediated constraints, together with a focus on a small peptide hotspot, may place limits on peptide antigen cross-reactivity.
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