The immunological synapse balances T cell receptor signaling and degradation

The immunological synapse is a specialized cell-cell junction between T cell and antigen-presenting cell surfaces. It is characterized by a central cluster of antigen receptors, a ring of integrin family adhesion molecules, and temporal stability over hours. The role of this specific organization in signaling for T cell activation has been controversial. We use in vitro and in silico experiments to determine that the immunological synapse acts as a type of adaptive controller that both boosts T cell receptor triggering and attenuates strong signals. The mature immunological synapse is char-acterized by a reorganization of membrane proteins, resulting in a stable central cluster of T cell receptors (TCRs) (the C-SMAC) surrounded by a ring of adhesion molecules (the P-SMAC) (1–3). Although it was origi-nally proposed that the immunological syn-apse serves to enhance and sustain signalin