Structure studies of the human class II major histocompatibility complex protein HLA-DR1

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) proteins are heterodimeric membrane glycoproteins that bind antigens in the form of short peptides within the cell and present them to the T cell receptors on the surface T cells. In this thesis work, the structural aspects of the human class II MHC protein HLA-DR1 in complex with different peptides and also in the peptide-free form were investigated. Biochemical, crystallographic, and immunological analyses of an unusually long peptide antigen derived from HIV-gag (p24) and its interaction with HLA-DR1 and a HIV-specific CD4+ T cell clone were studied. The HIV-gag (p24) peptide binds in an unexpected conformation, with its C- terminal region making a hairpin turn that bends back over the groove. The residues at the C-terminus are critical for T-cell recognition, and disruption of the hairpin turn abrogates the immune response. The results suggest a new mode of MHC-peptide-TCR interaction. A set of viral peptide analogs designed to increase binding affinity for HLA-DR while maintaining antigenic interactions with a virus-specific T cell receptor were designed, tested and analyzed. Ultimately, a N-methyl substitution at position 7 is shown to increase binding affinity by displacement of one of three water molecules bound between the MHC and peptide. The results have implications for design of peptido-mimetic vaccines, and are discussed in the broad context of other attempts to increase protein-ligand interaction through displacement of tightly bound water molecules. The role for the P10 shelf in peptide binding site was investigated. Crystallographic studies confirm the formation of a P10 shelf that is lined with highly polymorphic residues. Biochemical studies were conducted

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Chemistry.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Zavala-Ruiz, Zarixia, 1977-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Lawrence J. Stern.

• Chemistry.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/17842

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/17842