Transpeptidation and reverse proteolysis and their consequences for immunity

Celia R Berkers1, Annemieke de Jong, Huib Ovaa

  • 1Division of Cellular Biochemistry, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Reverse proteolysis and transpeptidation lead to the generation of polypeptide sequences that cannot be inferred directly from genome sequences as they are post-translational phenomena. These phenomena have so far received little attention although the physiological consequences may reach far. The protease-mediated synthesis of several immunodominant MHC class I antigens was recently reported, underscoring its importance to immunity. Reverse proteolytic and transpeptidation mechanisms as well as conditions that favor successful protease-catalyzed synthetic events are discussed here.

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