The Centre for Oncology and Immunology (COI) had the pleasure of hosting Prof Michael Reth, from the Institute of Biology III (Molecular Immunology) at the University of Freiburg, for an enriching guest seminar on November 18, 2024. A long-time collaborator and friend of COI Co-Director Prof Tak Mak, Prof Reth delivered a captivating presentation titled “From ITAM to ICOM: New Insights into the Lateral Interactome of Antigen Receptors,” to COI’s researchers.
In his lecture, Prof Reth challenged the prevailing notion that B cell receptors (BCRs) and T cell receptors (TCRs) are symmetrical. He presented compelling evidence of their asymmetrical structures and discussed the significant implications of this discovery. Drawing from personal anecdotes, Prof Reth illustrated how inspiration can stem from everyday experiences. For instance, he recounted an assignment from his art teacher involving colour blocks, which subsequently influenced his research identifying the CD79a and CD79b signalling subunits of the BCR. This work led to his discovery of the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation and inhibition motifs (ITAM and ITIM). Furthermore, he compared mountain topology to the ridge network of cells, which led him to uncover the immunoreceptor coupling and organisation motif (ICOM). His research revealed that monomeric BCRs are asymmetric, facilitating essential lateral interactions.
Through his insights into B cell receptor structure and function, Prof Reth not only illuminated the complexities of immunology but also urged young researchers to embrace curiosity and challenge established paradigms. He emphasised that even the most mundane aspects of daily life can spark transformative ideas in scientific inquiry.
COI extends its heartfelt gratitude to Prof Reth for visiting Hong Kong and making time to share his remarkable scientific journey with us.
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