Mouse Anti-Chicken CD8A monoclonal antibody for FC. CD8 (cluster of differentiation 8) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that serves as a co-receptor for the T cell receptor (TCR). Like the TCR, CD8 binds to a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule, but is specific for the class I MHC protein. There are two isoforms of the protein, alpha and beta, each encoded by a different gene. In humans, both genes are located on chromosome 2 in position 2p12. The extracellular IgV-like domain of CD8-? interacts with to the ?3 portion of the Class I MHC molecule. This affinity keeps the T cell receptor of the cytotoxic T cell and the target cell bound closely together during antigen-specific activation. Cytotoxic T cells with CD8 surface protein are called CD8+ T cells. The main recognition site is a flexible loop at the a3 domain of an MHC molecule. This was discovered by doing mutational analyses. The flexible a3 domain is located between residues 223 and 229 in the genome.