Download MendeleySubtle changes in peptide conformation profoundly affect recognition of the non-classical MHC class I molecule HLA-E by the CD94-NKG2 natural killer cell receptors
Hoare, H.L., Sullivan, L.C., Clements, C.S., Ely, L.K., Beddoe, T., Henderson, K.N., Lin, J., Reid, H.H., Brooks, A.G., Rossjohn, J.(2008) J Mol Biol 377: 1297-1303
- PubMed: 18339401
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2008.01.098
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
3BZE, 3BZF - PubMed Abstract:
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-E is a non-classical major histocompatibility complex class I molecule that binds peptides derived from the leader sequences of other HLA class I molecules. Natural killer cell recognition of these HLA-E molecules, via the CD94-NKG2 natural killer family, represents a central innate mechanism for monitoring major histocompatibility complex expression levels within a cell. The leader sequence-derived peptides bound to HLA-E exhibit very limited polymorphism, yet subtle differences affect the recognition of HLA-E by the CD94-NKG2 receptors. To better understand the basis for this peptide-specific recognition, we determined the structure of HLA-E in complex with two leader peptides, namely, HLA-Cw*07 (VMAPRALLL), which is poorly recognised by CD94-NKG2 receptors, and HLA-G*01 (VMAPRTLFL), a high-affinity ligand of CD94-NKG2 receptors. A comparison of these structures, both of which were determined to 2.5-A resolution, revealed that allotypic variations in the bound leader sequences do not result in conformational changes in the HLA-E heavy chain, although subtle changes in the conformation of the peptide within the binding groove of HLA-E were evident. Accordingly, our data indicate that the CD94-NKG2 receptors interact with HLA-E in a manner that maximises the ability of the receptors to discriminate between subtle changes in both the sequence and conformation of peptides bound to HLA-E.
Organizational Affiliation:
The Protein Crystallography Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
