Intramembrane proteolysis of signal peptides: an essential step in the generation of HLA-E epitopes.
Article Details
- CitationCopy to clipboard
Lemberg MK, Bland FA, Weihofen A, Braud VM, Martoglio B
Intramembrane proteolysis of signal peptides: an essential step in the generation of HLA-E epitopes.
J Immunol. 2001 Dec 1;167(11):6441-6.
- PubMed ID
- 11714810 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
Signal sequences of human MHC class I molecules are a unique source of epitopes for newly synthesized nonclassical HLA-E molecules. Binding of such conserved peptides to HLA-E induces its cell surface expression and protects cells from NK cell attack. After cleavage from the pre-protein, we show that the liberated MHC class I signal peptide is further processed by signal peptide peptidase in the hydrophobic, membrane-spanning region. This cut is essential for the release of the HLA-E epitope-containing fragment from the lipid bilayer and its subsequent transport into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum via the TAP.