Genetic modulation of antigen presentation by HLA-B27 molecules

Effect of polymorphism of an MHC-linked transporter on the peptides assembled in a class I molecule

Short antigenic peptides bound in the groove of class I major histocompatibility complex molecules enable T cells to detect intracellular pathogens. It has been assumed that structural features of the class I molecule alone select which peptides are bound. It is now demonstrated that a complex polymorphism in one of the major histocompatibility complex-encoded putative peptide-transporter genes is associated with an altered spectrum of bound peptides.

The MHC: relationship between linkage and function

It is intriguing that several genes with associated functions, including all of class I and class II genes, as well as some genes affecting antigen presentation of both class I and class II pathways, are linked in the MHC. Recent observations have led to speculation that there may be a functional explanation for keeping these related genes together.

A molecular model of MHC class-I-restricted antigen processing

Cells of higher vertebrates have evolved mechanisms that allow a sample of their intracellular contents to be available for surveillance by the immune system. This display of intracellular material is in the form of peptides bound to cell surface major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. In this review, John Monaco presents a model of the mechanisms by which this takes place, based on the recent identification of a number of new genes in the MHC.