HLA-DM - an endosomal and lysosomal chaperone for the immune system

Molecular chaperones are involved in a variety of cellular processes, including stabilization of newly synthesized polypeptide chains, assembly of oligomers, transport of proteins and organelle biogenesis. They are known to exert their activity in the cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and chloroplasts. HLA-DM is the first example of a molecular chaperone that operates in lysosomes: it plays a crucial role in endosomal and lysosomal compartments during loading of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules, specialized peptide receptors that are expressed by antigen-presenting cells of the immune system.