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Abstract

The invention provides a nucleic acid having a sequence which encodes a polypeptide that is at least part of a T cell antigen receptor. This encoded sequence is about 936 nucleotides in length and preferably is a human T cell antigen receptor. The nucleic acid sequence of one embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. The nucleic acid sequence may be used as a probe to determine whether an unknown cell, e.g., a tumor cell, is a T cell. Polypeptides encoded by the nucleic acid sequence include about 312 amino acids and are at least part of a T cell antigen receptor. They include at least one sequence which over 21 contiguous amino acids has greater than about 35% homology with mouse and human immunoglobin .lambda. light chains. Antibody to the polypeptide may be prepared and used to identify T cell antigen receptor and to determine whether an unknown cell, e.g., a tumor cell, is a T cell.

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First Claim