Biomaterial Database

Structural principles that govern the peptide-binding motifs of class I MHC molecules. 1998

C Zhang, and A Anderson, and C DeLisi

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University College of Engineering, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.

The peptides that bind class I MHC molecules are restricted in length and often contain key amino acids, anchor residues, at particular positions. The side-chains of peptide anchor residues interact with the polymorphic complementary pockets in MHC peptide-binding grooves and provide the molecular basis for allele-specific recognition of antigenic peptides. We establish correlations between class I MHC specificities for anchor residues and class I MHC sequence markers that occur at the polymorphic positions lining the structural pockets. By analyzing the pocket structures of nine crystallized class I MHC molecules and the modeled structures of another 39 class I MHC molecules, we show that class I pockets can be classified into families that are distinguishable by their common physico-chemical properties and peptide side-chain selectivities. The identification of recurrent structural principles among class I pockets makes it possible to greatly expand the repertoire of known peptide-binding motifs of class I MHC molecules. The evolutionary strategies underlying the emergence of pocket families is briefly discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008024	Ligands	A molecule that binds to another molecule, used especially to refer to a small molecule that binds specifically to a larger molecule, e.g., an antigen binding to an antibody, a hormone or neurotransmitter binding to a receptor, or a substrate or allosteric effector binding to an enzyme. Ligands are also molecules that donate or accept a pair of electrons to form a coordinate covalent bond with the central metal atom of a coordination complex. (From Dorland, 27th ed)	Ligand
D008958	Models, Molecular	Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures.	Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D010455	Peptides	Members of the class of compounds composed of AMINO ACIDS joined together by peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids into linear, branched or cyclical structures. OLIGOPEPTIDES are composed of approximately 2-12 amino acids. Polypeptides are composed of approximately 13 or more amino acids. PROTEINS are considered to be larger versions of peptides that can form into complex structures such as ENZYMES and RECEPTORS.	Peptide,Polypeptide,Polypeptides
D011485	Protein Binding	The process in which substances, either endogenous or exogenous, bind to proteins, peptides, enzymes, protein precursors, or allied compounds. Specific protein-binding measures are often used as assays in diagnostic assessments.	Plasma Protein Binding Capacity,Binding, Protein
D000483	Alleles	Variant forms of the same gene, occupying the same locus on homologous CHROMOSOMES, and governing the variants in production of the same gene product.	Allelomorphs,Allele,Allelomorph
D000596	Amino Acids	Organic compounds that generally contain an amino (-NH2) and a carboxyl (-COOH) group. Twenty alpha-amino acids are the subunits which are polymerized to form proteins.	Amino Acid,Acid, Amino,Acids, Amino
D001665	Binding Sites	The parts of a macromolecule that directly participate in its specific combination with another molecule.	Combining Site,Binding Site,Combining Sites,Site, Binding,Site, Combining,Sites, Binding,Sites, Combining
D015395	Histocompatibility Antigens Class I	Membrane glycoproteins consisting of an alpha subunit and a BETA 2-MICROGLOBULIN beta subunit. In humans, highly polymorphic genes on CHROMOSOME 6 encode the alpha subunits of class I antigens and play an important role in determining the serological specificity of the surface antigen. Class I antigens are found on most nucleated cells and are generally detected by their reactivity with alloantisera. These antigens are recognized during GRAFT REJECTION and restrict cell-mediated lysis of virus-infected cells.	Class I Antigen,Class I Antigens,Class I Histocompatibility Antigen,Class I MHC Protein,Class I Major Histocompatibility Antigen,MHC Class I Molecule,MHC-I Peptide,Class I Histocompatibility Antigens,Class I Human Antigens,Class I MHC Proteins,Class I Major Histocompatibility Antigens,Class I Major Histocompatibility Molecules,Human Class I Antigens,MHC Class I Molecules,MHC-I Molecules,MHC-I Peptides,Antigen, Class I,Antigens, Class I,I Antigen, Class,MHC I Molecules,MHC I Peptide,MHC I Peptides,Molecules, MHC-I,Peptide, MHC-I,Peptides, MHC-I
D016415	Sequence Alignment	The arrangement of two or more amino acid or base sequences from an organism or organisms in such a way as to align areas of the sequences sharing common properties. The degree of relatedness or homology between the sequences is predicted computationally or statistically based on weights assigned to the elements aligned between the sequences. This in turn can serve as a potential indicator of the genetic relatedness between the organisms.	Sequence Homology Determination,Determination, Sequence Homology,Alignment, Sequence,Alignments, Sequence,Determinations, Sequence Homology,Sequence Alignments,Sequence Homology Determinations
D055672	Static Electricity	The accumulation of an electric charge on a object	Electrostatic,Electrostatics,Static Charge,Charge, Static,Charges, Static,Electricity, Static,Static Charges