Structure and function of the non-classical major histocompatibility complex molecule MR1
Autor: | Laurent Gapin, S. Harsha Krovi |
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Rok vydání: | 2016 |
Předmět: |
0301 basic medicine
Protein Conformation Immunology Genes MHC Class I chemical and pharmacologic phenomena Computational biology Human leukocyte antigen Biology Major histocompatibility complex Article Minor Histocompatibility Antigens 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Antigen MHC class I Genetics Humans Antigen processing Histocompatibility Antigens Class I MHC restriction Acquired immune system 030104 developmental biology biology.protein CD8 030215 immunology |
Zdroj: | Immunogenetics. 68:549-559 |
ISSN: | 1432-1211 0093-7711 |
Popis: | Polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules play a central role in the vertebrate adaptive immune system. By presenting short peptides derived from pathogen-derived proteins, these "classical" MHC molecules can alert the T cell branch of the immune system of infected cells and clear the pathogen. There exist other "non-classical" MHC molecules, which while similar in structure to classical MHC proteins, are contrasted by their limited polymorphism. While the functions of many class Ib MHC molecules have still to be elucidated, the nature and diversity of antigens (if any) that some of them might present to the immune system is expected to be more restricted and might function as another approach to distinguish self from non-self. The MHC-related 1 (MR1) molecule is a member of this family of non-classical MHC proteins. It was recently shown to present unique antigens in the form of vitamin metabolites found in certain microbes. MR1 is strongly conserved genetically, structurally, and functionally through mammalian evolution, indicating its necessity in ensuring an effective immune system for members of this class. Although MR1 will be celebrating 21 years this year since its discovery, most of our understanding of how this molecule functions has only been uncovered in the past decade. Herein, we discuss where MR1 is expressed, how it selectively is able to bind to its appropriate antigens and how it, then, is able to specifically activate a distinct population of T cells. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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