Differences in MHC class I self peptide repertoires among HLA-A2 subtypes

To investigate how single amino acid substitutions in MHC class I molecules affect differences in peptide repertoires, we eluted and sequenced the naturally processed peptides from three HLA-A2 subtypes (HLA-A*0204, -A*0206, and -A*0207) that differ by a single amino acid residue substitution each with HLA-A*0201 at the floor of the binding groove. Allele-specific peptide motifs for each HLA-A2 subtype substantially differed from that of HLA-A*0201 in the dominant anchor residues. The relative signal intensities for 18 self peptides, determined by mass spectrometry, precisely reflected these peptide motifs. Some overlapping peptides were isolated from both HLA-A*0201 and a single HLA-A2 variant, but no peptide was ubiquitously found across all variants. To rationalize the differences in peptide motifs, possible conformations of each allele were computer modeled by energy minimization calculations based on the reported crystal structure of HLA-A*0201. According to our models, the differences in peptide motifs could be explained by substituted-residue-driven conformational changes for each MHC-peptide complex. These results demonstrate the fine differences between HLA-A2 subtype self peptide repertoires and contribute to the prediction of antigenic peptides.