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Related Experiment Videos

Major histocompatibility complex class I protein conformation altered by transmembrane potential changes

L Bene1, J Szöllósi, M Balázs

  • 1Department of Biophysics, Medical University School, Debrecen, Hungary.

Cytometry
|April 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

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Altering the electrical potential across cell membranes can induce reversible conformational changes in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens. This finding suggests a novel mechanism for regulating cell surface protein structure and function.

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Macromolecular structures within cell membranes possess charge distributions sensitive to transmembrane electrical fields.
  • Alterations in transmembrane potential are hypothesized to induce conformational changes in these membrane-bound proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether changes in transmembrane potential affect the conformation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens.
  • To characterize the reversibility of any observed conformational changes.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized flow-cytometric resonance energy-transfer (FRET) to monitor conformational changes in MHC class I antigens on human JY cells.
  • Employed fluorescently labeled monoclonal antibodies and Fab fragments targeting different epitopes on MHC class I heavy and light chains (beta 2-microglobulin).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Manipulated transmembrane potential through depolarization and subsequent repolarization.

    • Main Results:

    • Detected a reversible conformational change in MHC class I antigens upon reduction of the transmembrane potential (depolarization).
    • Observed an increase in intramolecular FRET efficiency between labeled antibodies/fragments, indicating a change in the spatial arrangement of MHC class I components.
    • Demonstrated that repolarization restored FRET efficiency to baseline levels.
    • Confirmed that the phenomenon was consistent when using both whole antibodies and Fab fragments for labeling.

    Conclusions:

    • Transmembrane potential directly influences the conformation of MHC class I antigens in the plasma membrane.
    • The observed conformational changes are reversible, suggesting a dynamic regulation mechanism.
    • This interaction is not limited to whole antibody binding, highlighting a fundamental property of the MHC class I complex in response to electrical fields.