Post-translational processing of a major histocompatibility complex-encoded proteasome subunit, LMP-2

Proteasomes are abundant, multisubunit protein complexes found in the cytoplasm and nucleus of eukaryotic cells that catalyze both ubiquitin-dependent and ubiquitin-independent protein degradation. In addition to their role in normal protein turnover, proteasomes are believed to be involved in the production of most antigenic peptides presented to T cells by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. A distinct subset of mouse proteasomes contain a subunit called LMP-2, which is encoded within the MHC. Here we demonstrate that a previously isolated proteasome cDNA clone encodes the LMP-2 subunit, and that two distinct forms of this subunit may be found in the proteasome complex. One form probably corresponds to the primary translation product, whereas the second form appears to be post-translationally processed by removal of the amino-terminal 20 amino acids. Determination of the location of intron/exon boundaries in the Lmp-2 gene indicated that these residues correspond precisely to the first exon of the gene.