Not just another Fab: the crystal structure of a TcR–MHC–peptide complex

Abstract

The structure of a ternary complex formed between a T-cell receptor, a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) protein and a viral peptide provides new insights into the cellular immune response. The results provide a molecular basis for understanding the development of T cells and the reactions leading to transplant rejection and autoimmunity.

Redundancy and Complementarity between ERAP1 and ERAP2 Revealed by their Effects on the Behcet's Disease-associated HLA-B*51 Peptidome*[S]

“…Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I (MHC-I) 1 molecules present peptides on the surface of every nucleated cell to be recognized by the T-cell receptors (TCR) of CD8 ϩ Tcells and the Killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) of Natural Killer (NK) cells (1)(2)(3)(4). MHC-I ligands arise mainly from intracellular proteins and defective ribosomal products (5) that are degraded in the cytosol by the proteasome and other proteases.…”

A New Role for Zn(II) Aminopeptidases: Antigenic Peptide Generation and Destruction

“…The peptide is bound in such conformation that some of its side chains are buried in binding clefts within the MHCI and some extend outwards giving the MHCI-peptide complex unique structural features depending on the sequence of the bound peptide [6]. Structural features arising from the MHCI molecule itself and the bound peptide are recognized by the TCR [7]. Successful recognition leads to further molecular interactions between surface receptors of the two cells and to the formation of a large interface between the two cells, called *Address correspondence to this author at the Protein Chemistry Laboratory, Institute of Radioisotopes and Radiodiagnostic Products, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Aghia Paraskevi, 15310, Greece; Tel: +30-210-6503918; Fax: +30-210-6543526; E-mail: stratos@rrp.demokritos.gr the immunological synapse [8][9][10][11][12].…”

The modular architecture of leukocyte cell‐surface receptors

“…3Bi). For example, the recent structures ofTCR/MHC (47) and CD8/MHC (15) complexes indicate how assemblies of non-covalent modular units can be formed. Some modules consistently appear to have their N-and C-termini at opposite ends of the structure (e.g.…”