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Structure of the human class I histocompatibility antigen, HLA-A2
P J Bjorkman1, M A Saper, B Samraoui
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
Nature
|October 8, 1987
Abstract:
The class I histocompatibility antigen from human cell membranes has two structural motifs: the membrane-proximal end of the glycoprotein contains two domains with immunoglobulin-folds that are paired in a novel manner, and the region distal from the membrane is a platform of eight antiparallel beta-strands topped by alpha-helices. A large groove between the alpha-helices provides a binding site for processed foreign antigens. An unknown 'antigen' is found in this site in crystals of purified HLA-A2.