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Updated: Sep 20, 2025

Stability and Structure of Bat Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I with Heterologous β2-Microglobulin
Published on: March 10, 2021
Some thoughts about what non-mammalian jawed vertebrates are telling us about antigen processing and peptide loading
1Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.
Abstract:
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of mammals encodes highly polymorphic classical class I and class II molecules with crucial roles in immune responses, as well as various nonclassical molecules encoded by the MHC and elsewhere in the genome that have a variety of functions. These MHC molecules are supported by antigen processing and peptide loading pathways which are well-understood in mammals. This review considers what has been learned about the MHC, MHC molecules and the supporting pathways in non-mammalian jawed vertebrates. From the initial understanding from work with the chicken MHC, a great deal of diversity in the structure and function has been found. Are there underlying principles?
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