A transmembrane tail: interaction of tapasin with TAP and the MHC class I molecule

Molecular architecture of the MHC I peptide-loading complex: one tapasin molecule is essential and sufficient for antigen processing

The loading of antigen-derived peptides onto MHC class I molecules for presentation to cytotoxic T cells is a key process in adaptive immune defense. Loading of MHC I is achieved by a sophisticated machinery, the peptide-loading complex (PLC), which is organized around the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) with the help of several auxiliary proteins. As an essential adapter protein recruiting MHC I molecules to TAP, tapasin catalyzes peptide loading of MHC I. However, the exact stoichiometry and basic molecular architecture of TAP and tapasin within the PLC remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that two tapasin molecules are assembled in the PLC, with one tapasin bound to each TAP subunit. However, one tapasin molecule bound either to TAP1 or TAP2 is sufficient for efficient MHC I antigen presentation. By specifically blocking the interaction between tapasin-MHC I complexes and the translocation complex TAP, the MHC I surface expression is impaired to the same extent as with soluble tapasin. Thus, the proximity of the peptide supplier TAP to the acceptor MHC I is crucial for antigen processing. In summary, the human PLC consists maximally of 2× tapasin-ERp57/MHC I per TAP complex, but one tapasin-ERp57/MHC I in the PLC is essential and sufficient for antigen processing.

Newly discovered viral E3 ligase pK3 induces endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation of class I major histocompatibility proteins and their membrane-bound chaperones

Viral immune invasion proteins are highly effective probes for studying physiological pathways. We report here the characterization of a new viral ubiquitin ligase pK3 expressed by rodent herpesvirus Peru (RHVP) that establishes acute and latent infection in laboratory mice. Our findings show that pK3 binds directly and specifically to class I major histocompatibility proteins (MHCI) in a transmembrane-dependent manner. This binding results in the rapid degradation of the pK3/MHCI complex by a mechanism dependent upon catalytically active pK3. Subsequently, the rapid degradation of pK3/MHCI secondarily causes the slow degradation of membrane bound components of the MHCI peptide loading complex, tapasin, and transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP). Interestingly, this secondary event occurs by cellular endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation. Cumulatively, our findings show pK3 uses a unique mechanism of substrate detection and degradation compared with other viral or cellular E3 ligases. More importantly, our findings reveal that in the absence of nascent MHCI proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum, the transmembrane proteins TAP and tapasin that facilitate peptide binding to MHCI proteins are degraded by cellular quality control mechanisms.

Productive association between MHC class I and tapasin requires the tapasin transmembrane/cytosolic region and the tapasin C-terminal Ig-like domain

The current model of antigen assembly with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules posits that interactions between the tapasin N-terminal immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domain and the MHC class I peptide-binding groove permit tapasin to regulate antigen selection. Much less is known regarding interactions that might involve the tapasin C-terminal Ig-like domain. Additionally, the tapasin transmembrane/cytoplasmic region enables tapasin to bridge the MHC class I molecule to the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP). In this investigation, we made use of two tapasin mutants to determine the relative contribution of the tapasin C-terminal Ig-like domain and the tapasin transmembrane/cytoplasmic region to the assembly of MHC class I molecules. Deletion of a loop within the tapasin C-terminal Ig-like domain (Δ334-342) prevented tapasin association with the MHC class I molecule K(d). Although tapasin Δ334-342 did not increase the efficiency of K(d) folding, K(d) surface expression was enhanced on cells expressing this mutant relative to tapasin-deficient cells. In contrast to tapasin Δ334-342, a soluble tapasin mutant lacking the transmembrane/cytoplasmic region retained the ability to bind to K(d) molecules, but did not facilitate K(d) surface expression. Furthermore, when soluble tapasin and tapasin Δ334-342 were co-expressed, soluble tapasin had a dominant negative effect on the folding and surface expression of not only K(d), but also D(b) and K(b). In addition, our molecular modeling of the MHC class I-tapasin interface revealed novel potential interactions involving tapasin residues 334-342. Together, these findings demonstrate that the tapasin C-terminal and transmembrane/cytoplasmic regions are critical to tapasin's capacity to associate effectively with the MHC class I molecule.