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IMMUNOLOGY

LCK senses asparagine for T cell activation

Amino acids are critical nutrients that contribute to metabolic and signalling pathways required to meet energy and biosynthetic demands in T cells. A new study now demonstrates that LCK can sense intracellular asparagine to support T cell receptor-mediated CD8+ T cell activation and effector responses to pathogens and tumours.

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Fig. 1: Amino acids promote T cell activation and function.

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Correspondence to Hongbo Chi.

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H.C. is a consultant for Kumquat Biosciences, Inc.

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Raynor, J.L., Chi, H. LCK senses asparagine for T cell activation. Nat Cell Biol 23, 7–8 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-020-00621-6

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