The Role of β_2-Microglobulin in Peptide Binding by Class I Molecules
Abstract
Efficient transport of class I major histocompatibility complex molecules to the cell surface requires association of the class I heavy chain with endogenous peptide and the class I light chain, β_2-microglobulin (β_2M). A mutant cell line deficient in β_2M transports low amounts of nonpeptide-associated heavy chains to the cell surface that can associate with exogenously provided β_2M and synthetic peptide antigens. Normal β_2M-sufficient cells grown in serum-free media devoid of β_2M also require an exogenous source of β_2M to efficiently bind synthetic peptide. Thus, class I molecules on normal cells do not spontaneously bind or exchange peptides.
- Publication:
-
Science
- Pub Date:
- December 1990
- DOI:
- 10.1126/science.2124002
- Bibcode:
- 1990Sci...250.1423V