Histocompatibility Complex Molecules

Tissue distribution All nucleated cells Antigen-presenting cells 

Function Present processed antigenic Present processed antigenic 

Structure of Class I Human Leukocyte Antigen Molecules 

MHC class II molecules are made up of two membrane-spanning proteins each chain has a size of 30 kDa and is made up of two globular domains. These domains are called a-1, a-2, (3-1 and P-2. Each chain possesses an immunoglobulin-like region next to the cell membrane. MHC class II molecules are highly polymorphic. 

Abbas AK, Lichtman AH, Pober JS. 1994. Cellular and Molecular Immunology, WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia. 

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Yong, V. W. and Antel J. P. Major histocompatibility complex molecules on glial cells. Semin. Neurosci. 4 231-240, 1992. 

The antigen must be broken down to small peptides which contain the epitope. The peptides must be presented to the TcR complex by major histocompatibility complex molecule, MHC. 

Gulukota, K., Sidney, J., Sette, A. DeLisi, C. (1997). Two complementary methods for predicting peptides binding major histocompatibility complex molecules. J Mol Biol 267, 1258-67. 

Bjorkman, P. J., and Parham, P. (1999). Structure, function and diversity of class I major histocompatibility complex molecules. Ann. Rev. Biochem. 90, 253-288. 

P.J. Bjorkman and P. Parham. 1990. Structure, function, and diversity of class 1 major histocompatibility complex molecules Rev. Biochem. 59 253-288. (PubMed)... 

Dubey C, Bellon B, Hirsch F, et al. 1991a. Increased expression of class II major histocompatibility complex molecules on B cells in rats susceptible or resistant to mercury chloride-induced autoimmunity. Clin Exp Immunol 86(1) 118-123. 

Both ligand and receptor reutilization (e.g., transferrin. Chapter 29 class I major histocompatibility complex molecules on T cells and class II molecules on macrophages. 

T lymphocytes (T cells). Thymus-dependent lymphocytes that differentiate in the thymus to express T cell receptor molecules that are specifc for complexes comprising short peptides bound to and presented by major histocompatibility complex molecules. Different subpopulations of regulatory and effector cells. See -cytotoxic T lymphocytes, helper T lymphocytes, regulatory T cells, and suppressor T lymphocytes. 

Zhang, Q., Tector, M., and Salter, R. D. (1995). Calnexin recognizes carbohydrate and protein determinants of class I major histocompatibility complex molecules. /. Biol. Chem. 270, 3944-3948. 

Nagy, Z.A., Mooney, N.A. A novel, alternative pathway of apoptosis triggered through class II major histocompatibility complex molecules./. Mol. Med. 2003, 81, 757-765. 

Ulrich RG, Bavari S, Olson M. Staphylococcal enterotoxins A and B share a common structural motif for binding class II major histocompatibility complex molecules. Nat Struct Biol. 1995 2 554-560. 

Appella, E., Padlan, E. A., and Hunt, D. R, Analysis of the structure of naturally processed peptides bound by class I and class II major histocompatibility complex molecules, Exs, 13, 105-119, 1995. 

Santin AD, Hermonat PL, Ravaggi A, Chiriva-Internati M, Hiserodt JC, Pecorelli S, et al (1998a) Effects of retinoic acid combined with irradiation on the expression of major histocompatibility complex molecules and adhesion/co-stimulation molecules ICAM-1 in human cervical cancer. Gynecol Oncol 70 195-201... 

Arunachalam, B., and Cresswell, P. Molecular Requirements for the Interaction of Class II Major Histocompatibility Complex Molecules and Invariant Chain with Calnexin J. Biol Chem. 1995 270, 2784-2790. 

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