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Related Experiment Videos

Tetrameric cell-surface MHC class I molecules.

S Krishna1, P Benaroch, S Pillai

  • 1Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Cancer Center of Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

Nature
|May 14, 1992
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules form tetramers, not just monomers, before cell surface expression. This tetrameric structure supports T-cell activation models involving antigen-receptor crosslinking.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Structural Biology
  • Molecular Cell Biology

Background:

  • High-resolution X-ray crystallography has revealed the monomeric structure of purified major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules.
  • The monomeric structure consists of a heavy chain, a beta 2-microglobulin light chain, and a bound peptide.
  • Previous models of T-cell activation have been based on the monomeric structure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the quaternary structure of complete major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules.
  • To determine the assembly state of MHC class I molecules expressed on the cell surface.
  • To reconcile the structural findings with existing models of T-cell activation.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of purified major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules.

Related Experiment Videos

  • High-resolution X-ray crystallography.
  • Cell surface expression analysis.

    • Main Results:

    • Complete major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules are assembled into tetramers post-translationally.
    • This tetrameric species is expressed on the cell surface.
    • The tetrameric structure is composed of four heavy chains and four beta 2-microglobulin units.

    Conclusions:

    • Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules exist as stable tetramers on the cell surface.
    • The multivalent tetrameric structure provides a structural basis for T-cell activation models involving antigen-receptor crosslinking.
    • This finding challenges models of T-cell activation that rely solely on allosteric changes within monomeric MHC class I molecules.