Possible Processing of Exogenously Added Synthetic Peptide by Cells Serving as Targets for a Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Response,
Abstract
T-cells recognize peptide antigens at cell surfaces in association with self glycoproteins called MHC (major histocompatibility complex) proteins, leading to the term 'MHC-restriction'. T-cells expressing CD4 are restricted by class II MHC molecules, while T-cells expressing CD8 are restricted by class I MHC. For instance, viral or other antigenic peptides generated within cells associate with class I MHC molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum during assembly from their two component chains, alpha and Beta(Sub2)m, to form a heterotrimetric complex recognized by CD8(+) T-cells. Once at the Cell surface, Most class I molecules exist as such heterotrimers, although there is evidence for peptide-free dimers which may by conformationally unstable. One particularly intriguing aspect of MHC-restricted antigen recognition is the fact that cells from a given individual express only about a half dozen different class I MHC molecules which collectively must present a potentially vast number of possible peptide antigens, implying a certain amount of degeneracy in peptide-MHC protein binding.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADP008552
Entities
People
- Herman N. Eisen
- Theodore J. Tsomides
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology