Figure 2.

Independence of rupture kinetics on pMHC density supports the assumption that single bonds are observed. For each pMHC, binding frequency and detachment curves were determined for at least two pMHC coating densities. The assumption that binding events were mediated by single bonds was based on the finding that twofold decrease of coating density resulted in approximately twofold decrease of adhesion frequency whereas survival curves were unaltered. A typical example is shown: ESO-3A peptide studied at 20 (red), 40 (purple), and 80 (blue) s⁻¹ shear rate with coating densities of 0.5 μg/mL (crosses) or 1 μg/mL (circles). The mean number of binding events used to build each curve is 262 (range: 79–548).