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Structure of HLA-A*0301 in complex with a peptide of proteolipid protein: insights into the role of HLA-A alleles in susceptibility to multiple sclerosis

Acta Cryst. (2011). D67, 447-454 (doi.org/10.1107/S0907444911007888)

[HLA-A] The crystal structure of HLA-A3 in complex with a ninemer peptide. The view is into the binding groove, with the peptide model in red and the corresponding electron density in yellow chicken wire.

Major histocompatability (MHC) class I molecules present peptides from cellular proteins for inspection by the immune system. This sampling allows detection of infection; the peptides for a cell infected by a virus will include some from viral proteins. In autoimmune diseases the immune system attacks healthy cells. McMahon et al. report the crystal structure of a human MHC class I molecule, HLA-A*0301, in complex with a peptide from a nervous system protein. This complex is a candidate target for immune-mediated myelin destruction causing multiple sclerosis.

R. M. McMahon, L. Friis, C. Siebold, M. A. Friese, L. Fugger and E. Y. Jones