Self-association of class I major histocompatibility complex molecules in liposome and cell surface membranes

Fluorescent derivatives of a human MHC class I glycoprotein, HLA-A2, were reconstituted into dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) liposomes. Measurements of lateral diffusion of fluorescein-(Fl-) labeled HLA-A2 by fluorescence photobleaching recovery (FPR), of rotational diffusion of erythrosin-(Er-) labeled HLA-A2 by time-resolved phosphorescence anisotropy (TPA), and of molecular proximity by flow cytometric fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FCET) showed that these class I MHC molecules self-associate in liposome membranes, forming small aggregates even at low surface concentrations. The lateral diffusion coefficient (Dlat) of Fl-HLA-A2 decreases with increasing surface protein concentration over a range of lipid:protein molar ratios (L/P) between 8000:1 and 2000:1. The reduction in Dlat of HLA molecules in DMPC liposomes is found to be sensitive to time and temperature. The rotational correlation time for Er-HLA-A2 in DMPC liposomes at 30 degrees C is 87 +/- 0.8 microseconds, at least 10 times larger than that expected for an HLA monomer. There is also significant quenching of donor (Fl-HLA) fluorescence at 37 degrees C in the presence of acceptor-labeled (sulforhodamine-labeled HLA) protein indicating proximity between HLA molecules even at L/P = 4000:1. FPR and FCET measurements with another membrane glycoprotein, glycophorin, give no evidence for its self-association. HLA aggregation measured by FPR, FCET, and TPA was blocked by beta 2-microglobulin, b2m, added to the liposomes. The aggregation of HLA-A2 molecules is not an artifact of their reconstitution into liposomes. HLA aggregates, defined by FCET, were readily detected on the surface of human lymphoblastoid (JY) cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)