HLA-B27 Subtypes Differentially Associated with Disease Exhibit Conformational Differences in Solution

Spondyloarthritides: Theories and beyond

Spondyloarthritides (SpA) are a family of interrelated rheumatic disorders with a typical disease onset ranging from childhood to middle age. If left untreated, they lead to a severe decrease in patients' quality of life. A succesfull treatment strategy starts with an accurate diagnosis which is achieved through careful analysis of medical symptoms. Classification criterias are used to this process and are updated on a regular basis. Although there is a lack of definite knowledge on the disease etiology of SpA, several studies have paved the way for understanding plausible risk factors and developing treatment strategies. The significant increase of HLA-B27 positivity in SpA patients makes it a strong candidate as a predisposing factor and several theories have been proposed to explain HLA-B27 driven disease progression. However, the presence of HLA-B27 negative patients underlines the presence of additional risk factors. The current treatment options for SpAs are Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), TNF inhibitors (TNFis), Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) and physiotherapy yet there are ongoing clinical trials. Anti IL17 drugs and targeted synthetic DMARDs such as JAK inhibitors are also emerging as treatment alternatives. This review discusses the current diagnosis criteria, treatment options and gives an overview of the previous findings and theories to clarify the possible contributors to SpA pathogenesis with a focus on Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA).

Dynamics of MHC-I molecules in the antigen processing and presentation pathway

The endogenous antigen processing and presentation (APP) is a fundamental pathway found in jawed vertebrates, which allows for a set of epitope peptides sampled from the intracellular proteome to be assembled and displayed on class I proteins of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC-I). Peptide/MHC-I antigens enable different aspects of adaptive immunity to emerge, by providing a basis for recognition of self vs. non-self by T cells and Natural Killer (NK) cells. Pioneering studies of pMHC-I molecules and their higher-order protein complexes with molecular chaperones and membrane receptors have gleaned important insights into the peptide loading and antigen recognition mechanisms. While X-ray and cryoEM structures have provided us with static snapshots of different MHC-I assembly stages, complementary biophysical techniques have revealed that MHC-I molecules are highly mobile on a range of biologically relevant timescales, which bears importance for their assembly, peptide repertoire selection, membrane display and turnover. This review summarizes insights gained from experimental and simulation studies aimed at investigating MHC-I dynamics, and their functional implications.

Venus flytrap or pas de trois? The dynamics of MHC class I molecules

The peptide binding site of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules is natively unfolded when devoid of peptides. Peptide binding stabilizes the structure and slows the dynamics, but peptide-specific and subtype-specific motions influence, and are influenced by, interaction with assembly chaperones, the T cell receptor, and other class I-binding proteins. The molecular mechanisms of cooperation between peptide, class I heavy chain, and beta-2 microglobulin are insufficiently known but are being elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance and other modern methods. It appears that micropolymorphic clusters of charged amino acids, often hidden in the molecule interior, determine the dynamics and thus chaperone dependence, cellular fate, and disease association of class I.

Conformational Plasticity of HLA-B27 Molecules Correlates Inversely With Efficiency of Negative T Cell Selection

The development of autoimmune disorders is incompletely understood. Inefficient thymic T cell selection against self-peptides presented by major histocompatibility antigens (HLA in humans) may contribute to the emergence of auto-reactive effector cells, and molecular mimicry between foreign and self-peptides could promote T cell cross-reactivity. A pair of class I subtypes, HLA-B2705 and HLA-B2709, have previously been intensely studied, because they are distinguished from each other only by a single amino acid exchange at the floor of the peptide-binding groove, yet are differentially associated with the autoinflammatory disorder ankylosing spondylitis. Using X-ray crystallography in combination with ensemble refinement, we find that the non-disease-associated subtype HLA-B2709, when presenting the self-peptide pGR (RRRWHRWRL), exhibits elevated conformational dynamics, and the complex can also be recognized by T cells. Both features are not observed in case of the sequence-related self-peptide pVIPR (RRKWRRWHL) in complex with this subtype, and T cell cross-reactivity between pGR, pVIPR, and the viral peptide pLMP2 (RRRWRRLTV) is only rarely observed. The disease-associated subtype HLA-B2705, however, exhibits extensive conformational flexibility in case of the three complexes, all of which are also recognized by frequently occurring cross-reactive T cells. A comparison of the structural and dynamic properties of the six HLA-B27 complexes, together with their individual ability to interact with T cells, permits us to correlate the flexibility of HLA-B27 complexes with effector cell reactivity. The results suggest the existence of an inverse relationship between conformational plasticity of peptide-HLA-B27 complexes and the efficiency of negative selection of self-reactive cells within the thymus.

Metal-triggered conformational reorientation of a self-peptide bound to a disease-associated HLA-B*27 subtype

Conformational changes of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens have the potential to be recognized by T cells and may arise from polymorphic variation of the MHC molecule, the binding of modifying ligands, or both. Here, we investigated whether metal ions could affect allele-dependent structural variation of the two minimally distinct human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B*27:05 and HLA-B*27:09 subtypes, which exhibit differential association with the rheumatic disease ankylosing spondylitis (AS). We employed NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography coupled with ensemble refinement to study the AS-associated HLA-B*27:05 subtype and the AS-nonassociated HLA-B* 27:09 in complex with the self-peptide pVIPR (RRKWRRWHL). Both techniques revealed that pVIPR exhibits a higher degree of flexibility when complexed with HLA-B*27:05 than with HLA-B*27:09. Furthermore, we found that the binding of the metal ion Cu²⁺ or Ni²⁺, but not Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, or Hg²⁺, affects the structure of a pVIPR-bound HLA-B*27 molecule in a subtype-dependent manner. In HLA-B*27:05, the metals triggered conformational reorientations of pVIPR, but no such structural changes were observed in the HLA-B*27:09 subtype, with or without bound metal ion. These observations provide the first demonstration that not only major histocompatibility complex class II, but also class I, molecules can undergo metal ion-induced conformational alterations. Our findings suggest that metals may have a role in triggering rheumatic diseases such as AS and also have implications for the molecular basis of metal-induced hypersensitivities and allergies.

Clinical Usefulness of HLA-B∗58:01 Genotyping in Gouty Arthritis

Allopurinol is an effective urate lowering agent but may lead to rare but life-threatening severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCAR). Genetic predisposition, age, sex, renal function, dosage and concomitant diuretic use are known risk factors of allopurinol related SCAR. Among these factors, HLA-B[Formula: see text]58:01 confers the highest risk. Frequency of the HLA-B[Formula: see text]58:01 allele varies significantly across different ethnic groups. Although the usefulness of HLA-5801 genotyping before initiation of allopurinol has been confirmed by clinical studies, its positive predictive value for SCAR is low because of the low prevalence of HLA-5801 in some localities. Thus, health economic analysis does not consistently show cost-effectiveness of universal screening of HLA-5801 before initiation of allopurinol. However, screening of this genotype in high-risk subjects, including those with renal impairment or advanced age, should be considered on individual basis.

Unusual Placement of an EBV Epitope into the Groove of the Ankylosing Spondylitis-Associated HLA-B27 Allele Allows CD8+ T Cell Activation

The human leukocyte antigen HLA-B27 is a strong risk factor for Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), an immune-mediated disorder affecting axial skeleton and sacroiliac joints. Additionally, evidence exists sustaining a strong protective role for HLA-B27 in viral infections. These two aspects could stem from common molecular mechanisms. Recently, we have found that the HLA-B*2705 presents an EBV epitope (pEBNA3A-RPPIFIRRL), lacking the canonical B27 binding motif but known as immunodominant in the HLA-B7 context of presentation. Notably, 69% of B*2705 carriers, mostly patients with AS, possess B*2705-restricted, pEBNA3A-specific CD8+ T cells. Contrarily, the non-AS-associated B*2709 allele, distinguished from the B*2705 by the single His116Asp polymorphism, is unable to display this peptide and, accordingly, B*2709 healthy subjects do not unleash specific T cell responses. Herein, we investigated whether the reactivity towards pEBNA3A could be a side effect of the recognition of the natural longer peptide (pKEBNA3A) having the classical B27 consensus (KRPPIFIRRL). The stimulation of PBMC from B*2705 positive patients with AS in parallel with both pEBNA3A and pKEBNA3A did not allow to reach an unambiguous conclusion since the differences in the magnitude of the response measured as percentage of IFNγ-producing CD8+ T cells were not statistically significant. Interestingly, computational analysis suggested a structural shift of pEBNA3A as well as of pKEBNA3A into the B27 grooves, leaving the A pocket partially unfilled. To our knowledge this is the first report of a viral peptide: HLA-B27 complex recognized by TCRs in spite of a partially empty groove. This implies a rethinking of the actual B27 immunopeptidome crucial for viral immune-surveillance and autoimmunity.

Integrating Experiment and Theory to Understand TCR-pMHC Dynamics

The conformational dynamism of proteins is well established. Rather than having a single structure, proteins are more accurately described as a conformational ensemble that exists across a rugged energy landscape, where different conformational sub-states interconvert. The interaction between αβ T cell receptors (TCR) and cognate peptide-MHC (pMHC) is no exception, and is a dynamic process that involves substantial conformational change. This review focuses on technological advances that have begun to establish the role of conformational dynamics and dynamic allostery in TCR recognition of the pMHC and the early stages of signaling. We discuss how the marriage of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with experimental techniques provides us with new ways to dissect and interpret the process of TCR ligation. Notably, application of simulation techniques lags behind other fields, but is predicted to make substantial contributions. Finally, we highlight integrated approaches that are being used to shed light on some of the key outstanding questions in the early events leading to TCR signaling.

Previously Hidden Dynamics at the TCR-Peptide-MHC Interface Revealed

A structural characterization of the interaction between αβ TCRs and cognate peptide-MHC (pMHC) is central to understanding adaptive T cell-mediated immunity. X-ray crystallography, although the source of much structural data, traditionally provides only a static snapshot of the protein. Given the emerging evidence for the important role of conformational dynamics in protein function, we interrogated 309 crystallographic structures of pMHC complexes using ensemble refinement, a technique that can extract dynamic information from the x-ray data. Focusing on a subset of human pMHC class I systems, we found that in many cases, ensemble methods were able to uncover previously hidden evidence of significant conformational plasticity, thereby revealing additional information that can build upon and significantly enhance functional interpretations that are based on a single static structure. Notable examples include the interpretation of differences in the disease association of HLA subtypes, the relationship between peptide prominence and TCR recognition, the role of conformational flexibility in vaccine design, and the discrimination between induced fit and conformational selection models of TCR binding. We show that the currently widespread practice of analyzing pMHC interactions via the study of a single crystallographic structure does not make use of pertinent and easily accessible information from x-ray data concerning alternative protein conformations. This new analysis therefore not only highlights the capacity for ensemble methods to significantly enrich the interpretation of decades of structural data but also provides previously missing information concerning the dynamics of existing characterized TCR-pMHC interactions.

Peptide and Peptide-Dependent Motions in MHC Proteins: Immunological Implications and Biophysical Underpinnings

Structural biology of peptides presented by class I and class II MHC proteins has transformed immunology, impacting our understanding of fundamental immune mechanisms and allowing researchers to rationalize immunogenicity and design novel vaccines. However, proteins are not static structures as often inferred from crystallographic structures. Their components move and breathe individually and collectively over a range of timescales. Peptides bound within MHC peptide-binding grooves are no exception and their motions have been shown to impact recognition by T cell and other receptors in ways that influence function. Furthermore, peptides tune the motions of MHC proteins themselves, which impacts recognition of peptide/MHC complexes by other proteins. Here, we review the motional properties of peptides in MHC binding grooves and discuss how peptide properties can influence MHC motions. We briefly review theoretical concepts about protein motion and highlight key data that illustrate immunological consequences. We focus primarily on class I systems due to greater availability of data, but segue into class II systems as the concepts and consequences overlap. We suggest that characterization of the dynamic “energy landscapes” of peptide/MHC complexes and the resulting functional consequences is one of the next frontiers in structural immunology.

Exploration of the Conformational Dynamics of Major Histocompatibility Complex Molecules

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules are loaded with a wide variety of self- and non-self-peptides in their binding grooves and present these to T cell receptors (TCRs) in order to activate the adaptive immune system. A large number of crystal structures of different MHC alleles with different bound peptides have been determined, and they have been found to be quite similar to one another regardless of the bound peptide sequence. The structures do not change markedly even when forming complexes with TCRs. Nonetheless, the degree of TCR activation does differ markedly depending on the peptide presented by the MHC. Recent structural studies in solution rather than as crystals have suggested that the conformational dynamics of MHC molecules may be responsible for the MHC stability differences. Furthermore, it was shown that the conformational dynamics of MHC molecules is important for peptide loading and presentation to TCR. Here, we describe the static and dynamic structures of MHC molecules and appropriate methods to analyze them. We focus particularly on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), one of the most powerful tools to study dynamic properties of proteins. The number of such studies in the literature is limited, but in this review, we show that NMR is valuable for elucidating the structural dynamics of MHC molecules.

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I and MHC Class II Proteins: Conformational Plasticity in Antigen Presentation

Antigen presentation by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins is essential for adaptive immunity. Prior to presentation, peptides need to be generated from proteins that are either produced by the cell's own translational machinery or that are funneled into the endo-lysosomal vesicular system. The prolonged interaction between a T cell receptor and specific pMHC complexes, after an extensive search process in secondary lymphatic organs, eventually triggers T cells to proliferate and to mount a specific cellular immune response. Once processed, the peptide repertoire presented by MHC proteins largely depends on structural features of the binding groove of each particular MHC allelic variant. Additionally, two peptide editors-tapasin for class I and HLA-DM for class II-contribute to the shaping of the presented peptidome by favoring the binding of high-affinity antigens. Although there is a vast amount of biochemical and structural information, the mechanism of the catalyzed peptide exchange for MHC class I and class II proteins still remains controversial, and it is not well understood why certain MHC allelic variants are more susceptible to peptide editing than others. Recent studies predict a high impact of protein intermediate states on MHC allele-specific peptide presentation, which implies a profound influence of MHC dynamics on the phenomenon of immunodominance and the development of autoimmune diseases. Here, we review the recent literature that describe MHC class I and II dynamics from a theoretical and experimental point of view and we highlight the similarities between MHC class I and class II dynamics despite the distinct functions they fulfill in adaptive immunity.

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I and MHC Class II Proteins: Conformational Plasticity in Antigen Presentation

Antigen presentation by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins is essential for adaptive immunity. Prior to presentation, peptides need to be generated from proteins that are either produced by the cell’s own translational machinery or that are funneled into the endo-lysosomal vesicular system. The prolonged interaction between a T cell receptor and specific pMHC complexes, after an extensive search process in secondary lymphatic organs, eventually triggers T cells to proliferate and to mount a specific cellular immune response. Once processed, the peptide repertoire presented by MHC proteins largely depends on structural features of the binding groove of each particular MHC allelic variant. Additionally, two peptide editors—tapasin for class I and HLA-DM for class II—contribute to the shaping of the presented peptidome by favoring the binding of high-affinity antigens. Although there is a vast amount of biochemical and structural information, the mechanism of the catalyzed peptide exchange for MHC class I and class II proteins still remains controversial, and it is not well understood why certain MHC allelic variants are more susceptible to peptide editing than others. Recent studies predict a high impact of protein intermediate states on MHC allele-specific peptide presentation, which implies a profound influence of MHC dynamics on the phenomenon of immunodominance and the development of autoimmune diseases. Here, we review the recent literature that describe MHC class I and II dynamics from a theoretical and experimental point of view and we highlight the similarities between MHC class I and class II dynamics despite the distinct functions they fulfill in adaptive immunity.

Proofreading of Peptide-MHC Complexes through Dynamic Multivalent Interactions

The adaptive immune system is able to detect and destroy cells that are malignantly transformed or infected by intracellular pathogens. Specific immune responses against these cells are elicited by antigenic peptides that are presented on major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) molecules and recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes at the cell surface. Since these MHC I-presented peptides are generated in the cytosol by proteasomal protein degradation, they can be metaphorically described as a window providing immune cells with insights into the state of the cellular proteome. A crucial element of MHC I antigen presentation is the peptide-loading complex (PLC), a multisubunit machinery, which contains as key constituents the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) and the MHC I-specific chaperone tapasin (Tsn). While TAP recognizes and shuttles the cytosolic antigenic peptides into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Tsn samples peptides in the ER for their ability to form stable complexes with MHC I, a process called peptide proofreading or peptide editing. Through its selection of peptides that improve MHC I stability, Tsn contributes to the hierarchy of immunodominant peptide epitopes. Despite the fact that it concerns a key event in adaptive immunity, insights into the catalytic mechanism of peptide proofreading carried out by Tsn have only lately been gained via biochemical, biophysical, and structural studies. Furthermore, a Tsn homolog called TAP-binding protein-related (TAPBPR) has only recently been demonstrated to function as a second MHC I-specific chaperone and peptide proofreader. Although TAPBPR is PLC-independent and has a distinct allomorph specificity, it is likely to share a common catalytic mechanism with Tsn. This review focuses on the current knowledge of the multivalent protein–protein interactions and the concomitant dynamic molecular processes underlying peptide-proofreading catalysis. We do not only derive a model that highlights the common mechanistic principles shared by the MHC I editors Tsn and TAPBPR, and the MHC II editor HLA-DM, but also illustrate the distinct quality control strategies employed by these chaperones to sample epitopes. Unraveling the mechanistic underpinnings of catalyzed peptide proofreading will be crucial for a thorough understanding of many aspects of immune recognition, from infection control and tumor immunity to autoimmune diseases and transplant rejection.

A computational docking study on the pH dependence of peptide binding to HLA-B27 sub-types differentially associated with ankylosing spondylitis

A single amino acid difference (Asp116His), having a key role in a pathogenesis pathway, distinguishes HLA-B*27:05 and HLA-B*27:09 sub-types as associated and non-associated with ankylosing spondylitis, respectively. In this study, molecular docking simulations were carried out with the aim of comprehending the differences in the binding behavior of both alleles at varying pH conditions. A library of modeled peptides was formed upon single point mutations aiming to address the effect of 20 naturally occurring amino acids at the binding core peptide positions. For both alleles, computational docking was applied using Autodock 4.2. Obtained free energies of binding (FEB) were compared within the peptide library and between the alleles at varying pH conditions. The amino acid preferences of each position were studied enlightening the role of each on binding. The preferred amino acids for each position of pVIPR were found to be harmonious with experimental studies. Our results indicate that, as the pH is lowered, the capacity of HLA-B*27:05 to bind peptides in the library is largely lost. Hydrogen bonding analysis suggests that the interaction between the main anchor positions of pVIPR and their respective binding pocket residues are affected from the pH the most, causing an overall shift in the FEB profiles.

The Dynamics of the Human Leukocyte Antigen Head Domain Modulates Its Recognition by the T-Cell Receptor

Generating the immune response requires the discrimination of peptides presented by the human leukocyte antigen complex (HLA) through the T-cell receptor (TCR). However, how a single amino acid substitution in the antigen bonded to HLA affects the response of T cells remains uncertain. Hence, we used molecular dynamics computations to analyze the molecular interactions between peptides, HLA and TCR. We compared immunologically reactive complexes with non-reactive and weakly reactive complexes. MD trajectories were produced to simulate the behavior of isolated components of the various p-HLA-TCR complexes. Analysis of the fluctuations showed that p-HLA binding barely restrains TCR motions, and mainly affects the CDR3 loops. Conversely, inactive p-HLA complexes displayed significant drop in their dynamics when compared with its free versus ternary forms (p-HLA-TCR). In agreement, the free non-reactive p-HLA complexes showed a lower amount of salt bridges than the responsive ones. This resulted in differences between the electrostatic potentials of reactive and inactive p-HLA species and larger vibrational entropies in non-elicitor complexes. Analysis of the ternary p-HLA-TCR complexes also revealed a larger number of salt bridges in the responsive complexes. To summarize, our computations indicate that the affinity of each p-HLA complex towards TCR is intimately linked to both, the dynamics of its free species and its ability to form specific intermolecular salt-bridges in the ternary complexes. Of outstanding interest is the emerging concept of antigen reactivity involving its interplay with the HLA head sidechain dynamics by rearranging its salt-bridges.

Co-fibrillogenesis of Wild-type and D76N β2-Microglobulin: THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF FIBRILLAR SEEDS

The amyloidogenic variant of β₂-microglobulin, D76N, can readily convert into genuine fibrils under physiological conditions and primes in vitro the fibrillogenesis of the wild-type β₂-microglobulin. By Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, we have demonstrated that the amyloid transformation of wild-type β₂-microglobulin can be induced by the variant only after its complete fibrillar conversion. Our current findings are consistent with preliminary data in which we have shown a seeding effect of fibrils formed from D76N or the natural truncated form of β₂-microglobulin lacking the first six N-terminal residues. Interestingly, the hybrid wild-type/variant fibrillar material acquired a thermodynamic stability similar to that of homogenous D76N β₂-microglobulin fibrils and significantly higher than the wild-type homogeneous fibrils prepared at neutral pH in the presence of 20% trifluoroethanol. These results suggest that the surface of D76N β₂-microglobulin fibrils can favor the transition of the wild-type protein into an amyloid conformation leading to a rapid integration into fibrils. The chaperone crystallin, which is a mild modulator of the lag phase of the variant fibrillogenesis, potently inhibits fibril elongation of the wild-type even once it is absorbed on D76N β₂-microglobulin fibrils.

Allopurinol hypersensitivity: investigating the cause and minimizing the risk

Allopurinol is the most commonly prescribed urate-lowering therapy for the management of gout. Serious adverse reactions associated with allopurinol, while rare, are feared owing to the high mortality. Such reactions can manifest as a rash combined with eosinophilia, leukocytosis, fever, hepatitis and progressive kidney failure. Risk factors for allopurinol-related severe adverse reactions include the recent introduction of allopurinol, the presence of the HLA-B(*)58:01 allele, and factors that influence the drug concentration. The interactions between allopurinol, its metabolite, oxypurinol, and T cells have been studied, and evidence exists that the presence of the HLA-B(*)58:01 allele and a high concentration of oxypurinol function synergistically to increase the number of potentially immunogenic-peptide-oxypurinol-HLA-B(*)58:01 complexes on the cell surface, thereby increasing the risk of T-cell sensitization and a subsequent adverse reaction. This Review will discuss the above issues and place this in the clinical context of reducing the risk of serious adverse reactions.

The Carboxy Terminus of the Ligand Peptide Determines the Stability of the MHC Class I Molecule H-2Kb: A Combined Molecular Dynamics and Experimental Study

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules (proteins) bind peptides of eight to ten amino acids to present them at the cell surface to cytotoxic T cells. The class I binding groove binds the peptide via hydrogen bonds with the peptide termini and via diverse interactions with the anchor residue side chains of the peptide. To elucidate which of these interactions is most important for the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of the peptide-bound state, we have combined molecular dynamics simulations and experimental approaches in an investigation of the conformational dynamics and binding parameters of a murine class I molecule (H-2K^b) with optimal and truncated natural peptide epitopes. We show that the F pocket region dominates the conformational and thermodynamic properties of the binding groove, and that therefore the binding of the C terminus of the peptide to the F pocket region plays a crucial role in bringing about the peptide-bound state of MHC class I.

TCR scanning of peptide/MHC through complementary matching of receptor and ligand molecular flexibility

Although conformational changes in TCRs and peptide Ags presented by MHC protein (pMHC) molecules often occur upon binding, their relationship to intrinsic flexibility and role in ligand selectivity are poorly understood. In this study, we used nuclear magnetic resonance to study TCR-pMHC binding, examining recognition of the QL9/H-2L(d) complex by the 2C TCR. Although the majority of the CDR loops of the 2C TCR rigidify upon binding, the CDR3β loop remains mobile within the TCR-pMHC interface. Remarkably, the region of the QL9 peptide that interfaces with CDR3β is also mobile in the free pMHC and in the TCR-pMHC complex. Determination of conformational exchange kinetics revealed that the motions of CDR3β and QL9 are closely matched. The matching of conformational exchange in the free proteins and its persistence in the complex enhances the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of the TCR-pMHC complex and provides a mechanism for facile binding. We thus propose that matching of structural fluctuations is a component of how TCRs scan among potential ligands for those that can bind with sufficient stability to enable T cell signaling.

NMR spectroscopy reveals unexpected structural variation at the protein-protein interface in MHC class I molecules

β2-Microglobulin (β2m) is a small, monomorphic protein non-covalently bound to the heavy chain (HC) in polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. Given the high evolutionary conservation of structural features of β2m in various MHC molecules as shown by X-ray crystallography, β2m is often considered as a mere scaffolding protein. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we investigate here whether β2m residues at the interface to the HC exhibit changes depending on HC polymorphisms and the peptides bound to the complex in solution. First we show that human β2m can effectively be produced in deuterated form using high-cell-density-fermentation and we employ the NMR resonance assignments obtained for triple-labeled β2m bound to the HLA-B*27:09 HC to examine the β2m-HC interface. We then proceed to compare the resonances of β2m in two minimally distinct subtypes, HLA-B*27:09 and HLA-B*27:05, that are differentially associated with the spondyloarthropathy Ankylosing Spondylitis. Each of these subtypes is complexed with four distinct peptides for which structural information is already available. We find that only the resonances at the β2m-HC interface show a variation of their chemical shifts between the different complexes. This indicates the existence of an unexpected plasticity that enables β2m to accommodate changes that depend on HC polymorphism as well as on the bound peptide through subtle structural variations of the protein-protein interface.

HLA-B27 and antigen presentation: at the crossroads between immune defense and autoimmunity

The HLA-B27 is historically studied as a susceptibility factor in spondyloarthropathies and, primarily, in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Over the recent years however, it has been rediscovered as protective factor against some severe viral infections. This is due to the high capacity of virus-specific, HLA-B27-restricted CD8+ T cells for both intrinsic (i.e. polyfunctionality, high avidity, low sensitivity to Treg cell-mediated suppression) and extrinsic (i.e. rapid and efficient antigen processing and presentation) factors. It is tempting to speculate that these two aspects are not independent and that the association of B27 molecules to autoimmunity is the downside of this superior functional efficacy which, in given genetic backgrounds and environmental conditions, can support a chronic inflammation leading to spondyloarthropathies. Still, the pathogenic role of HLA-B27 molecules in AS is elusive. Here, we focus on the biology of HLA-B27 from the genetics to the biochemistry and to the structural/dynamical properties of B27:peptide complexes as obtained from atomistic molecular dynamics simulation. Overall, the results point at the antigen presentation as the key event in the disease pathogenesis. In particular, an extensive comparison of HLA-B*2705 and B*2709 molecules, that differ in a single amino acid (Asp116 to His116) and are differentially associated with AS, indicates that position 116 is crucial for shaping the entire peptide-presenting groove.

Peptide modulation of class I major histocompatibility complex protein molecular flexibility and the implications for immune recognition

T cells use the αβ T cell receptor (TCR) to recognize antigenic peptides presented by class I major histocompatibility complex proteins (pMHCs) on the surfaces of antigen-presenting cells. Flexibility in both TCRs and peptides plays an important role in antigen recognition and discrimination. Less clear is the role of flexibility in the MHC protein; although recent observations have indicated that mobility in the MHC can impact TCR recognition in a peptide-dependent fashion, the extent of this behavior is unknown. Here, using hydrogen/deuterium exchange, fluorescence anisotropy, and structural analyses, we show that the flexibility of the peptide binding groove of the class I MHC protein HLA-A*0201 varies significantly with different peptides. The variations extend throughout the binding groove, impacting regions contacted by TCRs as well as other activating and inhibitory receptors of the immune system. Our results are consistent with statistical mechanical models of protein structure and dynamics, in which the binding of different peptides alters the populations and exchange kinetics of substates in the MHC conformational ensemble. Altered MHC flexibility will influence receptor engagement, impacting conformational adaptations, entropic penalties associated with receptor recognition, and the populations of binding-competent states. Our results highlight a previously unrecognized aspect of the "altered self" mechanism of immune recognition and have implications for specificity, cross-reactivity, and antigenicity in cellular immunity.

Alloreactivity

The alloimmune response between individuals genetically disparate for antigens encoded within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) remains a substantial barrier to transplantation of solid organs, tissues, and hematopoietic stem cells. Alloreactivity has been an immunological paradox because of its apparent contradiction to the requirement of MHC restriction for the induction of normal T lymphocyte mediated immune responses. Through crystallographic analyses and experimental systems utilizing murine CD8(+) cytolytic T cell clones, major advances have been achieved in understanding the molecular and structural basis of T cell receptor recognition of MHC-peptide complexes and the basis of T cell mediated alloreactivity. These studies have further provided an explanation for the relatively high frequencies of alloreactive T cells compared to the frequencies of T cells for microbial derived antigens.

IR spectroscopic analyses of amyloid fibril formation of β2-microglobulin using a simplified procedure for its in vitro generation at neutral pH

β2-microglobulin (β2m) is known to be the major component of fibrillar deposits in the joints of patients suffering from dialysis-related amyloidosis. We have developed a simplified procedure to convert monomeric recombinant β2m into amyloid fibrils at physiological pH by a combination of stirring and heating, enabling us to follow conformational changes associated with the assembly by infrared spectroscopy and electron microscopy. Our studies reveal that fibrillogenesis begins with the formation of relatively large aggregates, with secondary structure not significantly altered by the stirring-induced association. In contrast, the conversion of the amorphous aggregates into amyloid fibrils is associated with a profound re-organization at the level of the secondary and tertiary structures, leading to non-native like parallel arrangements of the β-strands in the fully formed amyloid structure of β2m. This study highlights the power of an approach to investigate the formation of β2m fibrils by a combination of biophysical techniques including IR spectroscopy.

Structural and dynamic control of T-cell receptor specificity, cross-reactivity, and binding mechanism

Over the past two decades, structural biology has shown how T-cell receptors engage peptide/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) complexes and provided insight into the mechanisms underlying antigen specificity and cross-reactivity. Here we review and contextualize our contributions, which have emphasized the influence of structural changes and molecular flexibility. A repeated observation is the presence of conformational melding, in which the T-cell receptor (TCR), peptide, and in some cases, MHC protein cooperatively adjust in order for recognition to proceed. The structural changes reflect the intrinsic dynamics of the unligated proteins. Characterization of the dynamics of unligated TCR shows how binding loop motion can influence TCR cross-reactivity as well as specificity towards peptide and MHC. Examination of peptide dynamics indicates not only peptide-specific variation but also a peptide dependence to MHC flexibility. This latter point emphasizes that the TCR engages a composite peptide/MHC surface and that physically the receptor makes little distinction between the peptide and MHC. Much additional evidence for this can be found within the database of available structures, including our observations of a peptide dependence to the TCR binding mode and structural compensations for altered interatomic interactions, in which lost TCR-peptide interactions are replaced with TCR-MHC interactions. The lack of a hard-coded physical distinction between peptide and MHC has implications not only for specificity and cross-reactivity but also the mechanisms underlying MHC restriction as well as attempts to modulate and control TCR recognition.

Dynamics of free versus complexed β2-microglobulin and the evolution of interfaces in MHC class I molecules

In major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, monomorphic β(2)-microglobulin (β(2)m) is non-covalently bound to a heavy chain (HC) exhibiting a variable degree of polymorphism. β(2)M can stabilize a wide variety of complexes ranging from classical peptide binding to nonclassical lipid presenting MHC class I molecules as well as to MHC class I-like molecules that do not bind small ligands. Here we aim to assess the dynamics of individual regions in free as well as complexed β(2)m and to understand the evolution of the interfaces between β(2)m and different HC. Using human β(2)m and the HLA-B*27:09 complex as a model system, a comparison of free and HC-bound β(2)m by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was initially carried out. Although some regions retain their flexibility also after complex formation, these studies reveal that most parts of β(2)m gain rigidity upon binding to the HC. Sequence analyses demonstrate that some of the residues exhibiting flexibility participate in evolutionarily conserved β(2)m-HC contacts which are detectable in diverse vertebrate species or characterize a particular group of MHC class I complexes such as peptide- or lipid-binding molecules. Therefore, the spectroscopic experiments and the interface analyses demonstrate that β(2)m fulfills its role of interacting with diverse MHC class I HC as well as effector cell receptors not only by engaging in conserved intermolecular contacts but also by falling back upon key interface residues that exhibit a high degree of flexibility.

Computational analysis on the binding of epitope peptide to human leukocyte antigen class I molecule A*2402 subtype

Immunological response induced by small amino peptide has attracted much recent attention in the field of immunotherapy. Wilms' tumor (WT1) protein is one of the potent tumor antigens inducing immunological response in mouse and human, because WT1 is over expressed in many types of leukemia and various kinds of solid tumors. A 9-mer peptide encoded in WT1 protein (CMTWNQMNL; amino acid 235-243) is known to serve as antigenic peptide for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*2402 molecule. It was reported that the replacement of the second amino residue, which is deeply responsible for the peptide binding to HLA, induced strong immunological response compared to the natural peptide. In this study, 19 kinds of single amino substitutions were introduced at position 2 of this 9-mer WT1 peptide. We performed molecular dynamics simulation on the complex of each of WT1 epitope peptides and HLA-β2 micro globulin (β2m) molecule, and subsequently estimated the binding affinity using molecular mechanics/generalized-Born surface area method combined with normal mode analysis. Our computation indicated that the peptide containing M2Y or M2W mutation showed high binding affinity to the HLA-β2m molecule as well as the natural peptide. We have also examined the role of the residue at position 2 in peptide binding to HLA-β2m. The calculation showed that van der Waals interaction between the side chain of the residue at position 2 and hydrophobic residues inside B-pocket of HLA are important. These findings will be helpful to search other potent peptides that will enhance strong immunological response specific to HLA-A*2402 molecule.

Epitope flexibility and dynamic footprint revealed by molecular dynamics of a pMHC-TCR complex

The crystal structures of unliganded and liganded pMHC molecules provide a structural basis for TCR recognition yet they represent ‘snapshots’ and offer limited insight into dynamics that may be important for interaction and T cell activation. MHC molecules HLA-B*3501 and HLA-B*3508 both bind a 13 mer viral peptide (LPEP) yet only HLA-B*3508-LPEP induces a CTL response characterised by the dominant TCR clonetype SB27. HLA-B*3508-LPEP forms a tight and long-lived complex with SB27, but the relatively weak interaction between HLA-B*3501-LPEP and SB27 fails to trigger an immune response. HLA-B*3501 and HLA-B*3508 differ by only one amino acid (L/R156) located on α2-helix, but this does not alter the MHC or peptide structure nor does this polymorphic residue interact with the peptide or SB27. In the absence of a structural rationalisation for the differences in TCR engagement we performed a molecular dynamics study of both pMHC complexes and HLA-B*3508-LPEP in complex with SB27. This reveals that the high flexibility of the peptide in HLA-B*3501 compared to HLA-B*3508, which was not apparent in the crystal structure alone, may have an under-appreciated role in SB27 recognition. The TCR pivots atop peptide residues 6–9 and makes transient MHC contacts that extend those observed in the crystal structure. Thus MD offers an insight into ‘scanning’ mechanism of SB27 that extends the role of the germline encoded CDR2α and CDR2β loops. Our data are consistent with the vast body of experimental observations for the pMHC-LPEP-SB27 interaction and provide additional insights not accessible using crystallography.

When pathogens replicate within a host cell, their proteins are degraded into peptides, which are captured by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and brought to the cell surface. The peptide-MHC (pMHC) is surveyed by T cell receptors (TCRs) expressed on the surface of T cells. If the peptide is foreign, the peptide-MHC-TCR interaction initiates an immune response to eliminate the pathogen. However, the combinations of pMHC and TCRs are diverse. We ask how TCRs discriminate between structurally similar pMHCs? We address this by focusing on two MHC molecules that differ by a single change, both bind the same peptide but only one instigates a dominant immune response. Intriguingly, the single difference between the two MHCs does not alter the peptide shape nor does it contact the peptide or TCR. We examined the flexibility of the pMHC-TCR interface using molecular dynamics simulations. We observed differences in the peptide and TCR flexibilities that could explain their contrasting physiologies, as well as clues to how the TCR moves atop the MHC in order to ‘scan’ it. Our analysis provides insight into a particular pMHC-TCR interaction not accessible using crystallographic methods, and indicate dynamics may play an influential and perhaps under-appreciated role in other pMHC-TCR systems.

Interaction pattern of Arg 62 in the A-pocket of differentially disease-associated HLA-B27 subtypes suggests distinct TCR binding modes

The single amino acid replacement Asp116His distinguishes the two subtypes HLA-B*2705 and HLA-B*2709 which are, respectively, associated and non-associated with Ankylosing Spondylitis, an autoimmune chronic inflammatory disease. The reason for this differential association is so far poorly understood and might be related to subtype-specific HLA:peptide conformations as well as to subtype/peptide-dependent dynamical properties on the nanoscale. Here, we combine functional experiments with extensive molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the molecular dynamics and function of the conserved Arg62 of the α1-helix for both B27 subtypes in complex with the self-peptides pVIPR (RRKWRRWHL) and TIS (RRLPIFSRL), and the viral peptides pLMP2 (RRRWRRLTV) and NPflu (SRYWAIRTR). Simulations of HLA:peptide systems suggest that peptide-stabilizing interactions of the Arg62 residue observed in crystal structures are metastable for both B27 subtypes under physiological conditions, rendering this arginine solvent-exposed and, probably, a key residue for TCR interaction more than peptide-binding. This view is supported by functional experiments with conservative (R62K) and non-conservative (R62A) B*2705 and B*2709 mutants that showed an overall reduction in their capability to present peptides to CD8+ T cells. Moreover, major subtype-dependent differences in the peptide recognition suggest distinct TCR binding modes for the B*2705 versus the B*2709 subtype.

Loss of T cell antigen recognition arising from changes in peptide and major histocompatibility complex protein flexibility: implications for vaccine design

Modification of the primary anchor positions of antigenic peptides to improve binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins is a commonly used strategy for engineering peptide-based vaccine candidates. However, such peptide modifications do not always improve antigenicity, complicating efforts to design effective vaccines for cancer and infectious disease. Here we investigated the MART-1(27-35) tumor antigen, for which anchor modification (replacement of the position two alanine with leucine) dramatically reduces or ablates antigenicity with a wide range of T cell clones despite significantly improving peptide binding to MHC. We found that anchor modification in the MART-1(27-35) antigen enhances the flexibility of both the peptide and the HLA-A*0201 molecule. Although the resulting entropic effects contribute to the improved binding of the peptide to MHC, they also negatively impact T cell receptor binding to the peptide·MHC complex. These results help explain how the "anchor-fixing" strategy fails to improve antigenicity in this case, and more generally, may be relevant for understanding the high specificity characteristic of the T cell repertoire. In addition to impacting vaccine design, modulation of peptide and MHC flexibility through changes to antigenic peptides may present an evolutionary strategy for the escape of pathogens from immune destruction.

The oxidative folding and misfolding of human leukocyte antigen-b27

The major histocompatibility complex class I molecule human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 is strongly associated with a group of inflammatory arthritic disorders known as the spondyloarthropathies. Many autoimmune diseases exhibit associations with major histocompatibility complex molecules encoded within the class II locus with defined immune responses either mediated by T or B-lymphocytes. Despite the association being known for over 30 years, no defined immune response and target autoantigens have been characterized for the spondyloarthropathies. Thus, the mechanism and role of HLA-B27 in disease pathogenesis remains undetermined. One hypothesis that has recently received much attention has focused around the enhanced propensity for HLA-B27 to misfold and the increased tendency of the heavy chain to dimerize. The misfolding of HLA-B27 has been associated with its redox status and this is postulated to be involved in disease development. Here we discuss the impact of the redox status on HLA-B27 biosynthesis and function.

HLA class I-associated diseases with a suspected autoimmune etiology: HLA-B27 subtypes as a model system

Although most autoimmune diseases are connected to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II alleles, a small number of these disorders exhibit a variable degree of association with selected MHC class I genes, like certain human HLA-A and HLA-B alleles. The basis for these associations, however, has so far remained elusive. An understanding might be obtained by comparing functional, biochemical, and biophysical properties of alleles that are minimally distinct from each other, but are nevertheless differentially associated to a given disease, like the HLA-B*27:05 and HLA-B*27:09 antigens, which differ only by a single amino acid residue (Asp116His) that is deeply buried within the binding groove. We have employed a number of approaches, including X-ray crystallography and isotope-edited infrared spectroscopy, to investigate biophysical characteristics of the two HLA-B27 subtypes complexed with up to ten different peptides. Our findings demonstrate that the binding of these peptides as well as the conformational flexibility of the subtypes is greatly influenced by interactions of the C-terminal peptide residue. In particular, a basic C-terminal peptide residue is favoured by the disease-associated subtype HLA-B*27:05, but not by HLA-B*27:09. This property appears also as the only common denominator of distinct HLA class I alleles, among them HLA-B*27:05, HLA-A*03:01 or HLA-A*11:01, that are associated with diseases suspected to have an autoimmune etiology. We postulate here that the products of these alleles, due to their unusual ability to bind with high affinity to a particular peptide set during positive T cell selection in the thymus, are involved in shaping an abnormal T cell repertoire which predisposes to the acquisition of autoimmune diseases.

Loss of recognition by cross-reactive T cells and its relation to a C-terminus-induced conformational reorientation of an HLA-B*2705-bound peptide

The human major histocompatibility complex class I antigen HLA-B*2705 binds several sequence-related peptides (pVIPR, RRKWRRWHL; pLPM2, RRRWRRLTV; pGR, RRRWHRWRL). Cross-reactivity of cytotoxic T cells (CTL) against these HLA-B*2705:peptide complexes seemed to depend on a particular peptide conformation that is facilitated by the engagement of a crucial residue within the binding groove (Asp116), associated with a noncanonical bulging-in of the middle portion of the bound peptide. We were interested whether a conformational reorientation of the ligand might contribute to the lack of cross-reactivity of these CTL with a peptide derived from voltage-dependent calcium channel α1 subunit (pCAC, SRRWRRWNR), in which the C-terminal peptide residue pArg9 could engage Asp116. Analyses of the HLA-B*2705:pCAC complex by X-ray crystallography at 1.94 Å resolution demonstrated that the peptide had indeed undergone a drastic reorientation, leading it to adopt a canonical binding mode accompanied by the loss of molecular mimicry between pCAC and sequence-related peptides such as pVIPR, pLMP2, and pGR. This was clearly a consequence of interactions of pArg9 with Asp116 and other F-pocket residues. Furthermore, we observed an unprecedented reorientation of several additional residues of the HLA-B*2705 heavy chain near the N-terminal region of the peptide, including also the presence of double conformations of two glutamate residues, Glu63 and Glu163, on opposing sides of the peptide binding groove. Together with the Arg-Ser exchange at peptide position 1, there are thus multiple structural reasons that may explain the observed failure of pVIPR-directed, HLA-B*2705-restricted CTL to cross-react with HLA-B*2705:pCAC complexes.

A comparative approach linking molecular dynamics of altered peptide ligands and MHC with in vivo immune responses

BACKGROUND

The recognition of peptide in the context of MHC by T lymphocytes is a critical step in the initiation of an adaptive immune response. However, the molecular nature of the interaction between peptide and MHC and how it influences T cell responsiveness is not fully understood.

RESULTS

We analyzed the immunological consequences of the interaction of MHC class II (I-Au) restricted 11-mer peptides of myelin basic protein with amino acid substitutions at position 4. These mutant peptides differ in MHC binding affinity, CD4+ T cell priming, and alter the severity of peptide-induced experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Using molecular dynamics, a computational method of quantifying intrinsic movements of proteins at high resolution, we investigated conformational changes in MHC upon peptide binding. We found that irrespective of peptide binding affinity, MHC deformation appears to influence costimulation, which then leads to effective T cell priming and disease induction. Although this study compares in vivo and molecular dynamics results for three altered peptide ligands, further investigation with similar complexes is essential to determine whether spatial rearrangement of peptide-MHC and costimulatory complexes is an additional level of T cell regulation.

Predicting important residues and interaction pathways in proteins using Gaussian Network Model: binding and stability of HLA proteins

A statistical thermodynamics approach is proposed to determine structurally and functionally important residues in native proteins that are involved in energy exchange with a ligand and other residues along an interaction pathway. The structure-function relationships, ligand binding and allosteric activities of ten structures of HLA Class I proteins of the immune system are studied by the Gaussian Network Model. Five of these models are associated with inflammatory rheumatic disease and the remaining five are properly functioning. In the Gaussian Network Model, the protein structures are modeled as an elastic network where the inter-residue interactions are harmonic. Important residues and the interaction pathways in the proteins are identified by focusing on the largest eigenvalue of the residue interaction matrix. Predicted important residues match those known from previous experimental and clinical work. Graph perturbation is used to determine the response of the important residues along the interaction pathway. Differences in response patterns of the two sets of proteins are identified and their relations to disease are discussed.

We propose a statistical thermodynamics model for determining structurally and functionally important residues in ligand-protein interactions. Our method identifies the path that the protein uses in transferring information from one point to the other. We show that a few energetically active residues are most efficient in energy exchange with the surroundings acting as ‘energy gates’. The remaining important residues that we identify are situated along the interaction path. These are the hub residues. Strong correlations exist between energy gates and hub residues along the interaction path, thus relating to allostery and cooperative binding. We studied the structure-function, ligand binding and allosteric activities of ten models of HLA Class I proteins of the immune system. Five of these models belong to the HLA-B*2705 allele and are strongly associated with a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease. The remaining five from the HLA-B*2709 allele of the same protein are the corresponding properly functioning ones. We show that differences in the contact maps of the two types lead to significant and consistent changes in the fluctuation profile, making the HLA-B*2705 alleles respond too strongly to perturbation.

T cell receptor cross-reactivity directed by antigen-dependent tuning of peptide-MHC molecular flexibility

T cell-mediated immunity requires T cell receptor (TCR) cross-reactivity, the mechanisms behind which remain incompletely elucidated. The alphabeta TCR A6 recognizes both the Tax (LLFGYPVYV) and Tel1p (MLWGYLQYV) peptides presented by the human class I MHC molecule HLA-A2. Here we found that although the two ligands are ideal structural mimics, they form substantially different interfaces with A6, with conformational differences in the peptide, the TCR, and unexpectedly, the MHC molecule. The differences between the Tax and Tel1p ternary complexes could not be predicted from the free peptide-MHC structures and are inconsistent with a traditional induced-fit mechanism. Instead, the differences were attributable to peptide and MHC molecular motion present in Tel1p-HLA-A2 but absent in Tax-HLA-A2. Differential "tuning" of the dynamic properties of HLA-A2 by the Tax and Tel1p peptides thus facilitates cross-recognition and impacts how structural diversity can be presented to and accommodated by receptors of the immune system.

A general and efficient approach for NMR studies of peptide dynamics in class I MHC peptide binding grooves

T-Cell receptor recognition of peptides bound by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins initiates a cellular immune response. Dynamics of peptides within MHC binding grooves can influence TCR recognition, yet NMR studies which could address this rigorously have been hindered by the expense of isotopically labeled peptides and the large size of peptide-MHC complexes. Here we describe a methodology for characterizing peptide dynamics within MHC binding grooves via NMR, using a biosynthetic approach for producing labeled peptide. With the Tax(11-19) peptide bound to the human class I MHC HLA-A*0201, we demonstrate that peptide generated in this manner can be well characterized in MHC binding grooves by NMR, providing opportunities to more precisely study the role of peptide dynamics in TCR recognition. Demonstrating the utility of such studies, the data with the Tax(11-19) peptide indicate the presence of slow conformational exchange in the peptide, supporting an "induced-fit" style TCR binding mechanism.

A soft preparative method for membrane proteome analysis using frit inlet asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation: application in a prostatic cancer cell line

Membrane proteins participate in a number of important biological functions such as signal transduction, molecular transport, and cell-cell interactions. However, due to the nature of membrane proteins, the development of a preparative method that produces a sufficient yield of purified membrane proteins from the cell remains a challenge. In the present study, frit inlet asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (FI-AFlFFF) was employed to fractionate membrane fragments containing membrane proteins from free cytoplasmic proteins of prostatic cancer cell (DU145 cell) lysates. The isolated membrane proteins were then digested and analyzed by nanoflow liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-ESI-MS-MS). Since fractionation of the cell lysate mixtures containing membrane fragments and cytoplasmic proteins could be achieved based on the differences of their sizes in FI-AFlFFF, membrane fragments were partially isolated from the cytoplasmic proteins and collected. The performance of FI-AFlFFF for prefractionation of the membrane proteome was examined by comparing the number of membrane proteins that were identified with the number identified using an ultracentrifugation method. The application of FI-AFlFFF to membrane proteomics produced an increased yield of purified membrane proteins with fewer cytoplasmic proteins compared to a conventional ultracentrifugation method.

Subtypes of HLA-B27: history and implications in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis

HLA-B27 represents a family of 38 closely related cell surface proteins (encoded by the alleles HLA-B*2701-39) called subtypes of HLA-B27, most of which have evolved from the ubiquitous HLA-B*2705 (specifically the B*27052 allele). HLA-B27 subtypes are largely characterized by nucleotide substitutions (mostly nonsynonymous) in exons 2 and 3 which encode alpha1 and alpha2 domains ofthe peptide binding groove respectively. Table 1 shows the description of sequences of HLA-B27 allele sequences. The subtypes could have arisen from B*2705 by point mutation (B*2703, B*2709, B*2704), gene conversion (B*2701, B*2702, B*2708) and reciprocal recombination (B*2707) B*2706 could have arisen by interlocus gene conversion. Studies from different parts of the world reveal differences in the population distribution.

Early stages of misfolding and association of beta2-microglobulin: insights from infrared spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering

Conformational changes associated with the assembly of recombinant beta 2-microglobulin in vitro under acidic conditions were investigated using infrared spectroscopy and static and dynamic light scattering. In parallel, the morphology of the different aggregated species obtained under defined conditions was characterized by electron microscopy. The initial salt-induced aggregate form of beta 2-microglobulin, composed of small oligomers (dimers to tetramers), revealed the presence of beta-strands organized in an intramolecular-like fashion. Further particle growth was accompanied by the formation of intermolecular beta-sheet structure and led to short curved forms. An increase in temperature by only 25 degrees C was able to disaggregate these assemblies, followed by the formation of longer filamentous structures. In contrast, a rise in temperature up to 100 degrees C was associated with a reorganization of the short curved forms at the level of secondary structure and the state of assembly, leading to a species with a characteristic infrared spectrum different from those of all the other aggregates observed before, suggesting a unique overall structure. The infrared spectral features of this species were nearly identical to those of beta 2-microglobulin assemblies formed at low ionic strength with agitation, indicating the presence of fibrils, which was confirmed by electron microscopy. The observed spectroscopic changes suggest that the heat-triggered conversion of the short curved assemblies into fibrils involves a reorganization of the beta-strands from an antiparallel arrangement to a parallel arrangement, with the latter being characteristic of amyloid fibrils of beta 2-microglobulin.

Molecular determinants of major histocompatibility complex class I complex stability: shaping antigenic features through short and long range electrostatic interactions

A single amino acid exchange between the major histocompatibility complex molecules HLA-B(*)2705 and HLA-B(*)2709 (Asp-116/His) is responsible for the emergence of distinct HLA-B27-restricted T cell repertoires in individuals harboring either of these two subtypes and could correlate with their differential association with the autoimmune disease ankylosing spondylitis. By using fluorescence depolarization and pK(a) calculations, we investigated to what extent electrostatic interactions contribute to shape antigenic differences between these HLA molecules complexed with viral, self, and non-natural peptide ligands. In addition to the established main anchor of peptides binding to HLA-B27, arginine at position 2 (pArg-2), and the secondary anchors at the peptide termini, at least two further determinants contribute to stable peptide accommodation. 1) The interaction of Asp-116 with arginine at peptide position 5, as found in pLMP2 (RRRWRRLTV; viral) and pVIPR (RRKWRRWHL; self), and with lysine in pOmega, as found in gag (KRWIILGLNK; viral), additionally stabilizes the B(*)2705 complexes by approximately 5 and approximately 27 kJ/mol, respectively, in comparison with B(*)2709. 2) The protonation state of the key residues Glu-45 and Glu-63 in the B-pocket, which accommodates pArg-2, affects peptide binding strength in a peptide- and subtype-dependent manner. In B(*)2705/pLMP2, protonation of Glu-45/Glu-63 reduces the interaction energy of pArg-2 by approximately 24 kJ/mol as compared with B(*)2705/pVIPR. B(*)2705/pVIPR is stabilized by a deprotonated Glu-45/Glu-63 pair, evoked by allosteric interactions with pHis-8. The mutual electrostatic interactions of peptide and HLA molecule, including peptide- and subtype-dependent protonation of key residues, modulate complex stability and antigenic features of the respective HLA-B27 subtype.