0000000000741437
AUTHOR
Alejandra Nacarino Martinez
Characterizing the N-terminal processing motif of MHC class I ligands.
Abstract Most peptide ligands presented by MHC class I molecules are the product of an intracellular pathway comprising protein breakdown in the cytosol, transport into the endoplasmic reticulum, and successive N-terminal trimming events. The efficiency of each of these processes depends on the amino acid sequence of the presented ligand and its precursors. Thus, relating the amino acid composition N-terminal of presented ligands to the sequence specificity of processes in the pathway gives insight into the usage of ligand precursors in vivo. Examining the amino acid composition upstream the true N terminus of MHC class I ligands, we demonstrate the existence of a distinct N-terminal proces…
T-Cell Epitope Processing (The Epitope Flanking Regions Matter)
Epitopes presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules for cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) recognition are derived mainly from cytosolic proteins. Antigen presentation on the cell surface requires correct processing of epitopes by the proteasome, cytosolic and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) aminopeptidases, efficient TAP transport, and sufficient binding to MHC class I molecules. The efficiency of the epitope generation depends not only on the epitope itself but also on its flanking regions. To investigate preferences at the C-terminal epitope extension on processing and presentation, the SIINFEKL (S8L) epitope can be used as a model epitope. By exchanging the amino acids a…