Why do some T cell receptor cytoplasmic domains associate with the plasma membrane?

Abstract

Based on studies in model systems it has been proposed that the cytoplasmic domains of T cell receptor signaling subunits that have polybasic motifs associate with the plasma membrane, and that this regulates their phosphorylation. Recent experiments in more physiological systems have confirmed membrane association but raised questions as to its function. © 2012 van der Merwe, Zhang and Cordoba.