Cell surface expression of class II MHC proteins bound by a single peptide

On normal cells, the peptide-binding grooves of class II MHC proteins contain a wide spectrum of peptides. For some purposes, however, it would be helpful to have cells bearing class II proteins engaged by only one peptide species. In an attempt to make such cells we constructed a gene for a MHC class II beta-chain, IA beta b, covalently linked to a peptide, E alpha 52-68, which is known to bind to the peptide-binding groove of IAb. This gene, together with the gene for IA alpha b, was transfected into B lymphoma cells and fibroblasts. The IAb-E alpha complex was expressed on the surfaces of these cells where it could be recognized by a mAb and T cells specific for IAb plus E alpha 52-68. Most of the peptide on fibroblasts remained covalently attached to the IAb beta-chain, but the covalent linker and/or peptide were degraded to some extent on B lymphoma cells. Nearly all of the IAb expressed by transfected fibroblasts was occupied by the E alpha peptide. Of 16 IAb-reactive T cell hybridomas, only 3 could respond to the IAb-E alpha complex on fibroblasts, confirming the idea that recognition of MHC may often involve recognition of the peptides bound to the MHC as well.