immunological synapse

Term ID

GO:0001772

Synonyms

• c-SMAC
• supramolecular activation cluster

Definition

An area of close contact between a lymphocyte (T-, B-, or natural killer cell) and a target cell formed through the clustering of particular signaling and adhesion molecules and their associated membrane rafts on both the lymphocyte and the target cell and facilitating activation of the lymphocyte, transfer of membrane from the target cell to the lymphocyte, and in some situations killing of the target cell through release of secretory granules and/or death-pathway ligand-receptor interaction. (2)

References

• Wikipedia:Immunological_synapse

Ontology

GO: Cellular Component    QuickGO    AmiGO