Peptide selection by MHC class I molecules. |
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Authors: | T N Schumacher M L De Bruijn L N Vernie W M Kast C J Melief J J Neefjes H L Ploegh |
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Institution: | Department of Cellular Biochemistry, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam. |
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Abstract: | Synthetic peptides have been used to sensitize target cells and thereby screen for epitopes recognized by T cells. Most epitopes of cytotoxic T lymphocytes can be mimicked by synthetic peptides of 12-15 amino acids. Although in specific cases, truncations of peptides improves sensitization of target cells, no optimum length for binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules has been defined. We have now analysed synthetic peptide captured by empty MHC class I molecules of the mutant cell line RMA-S. We found that class I molecules preferentially bound short peptides (nine amino acids) and selectively bound these peptides even when they were a minor component in a mixture of longer peptides. These results may help to explain the difference in size restriction of T-cell epitopes between experiments with synthetic peptides and those with naturally processed peptides. |
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