Peptide length and sequence specificity of the mouse TAP1/TAP2 translocator

Ton N.M. Schumacher, Devang V. Kantesaria, Marie Therese Heemels, Philip G. Ashton-Rickardt, James C. Shepherd, Klaus Fruh, Young Yang, Per A. Peterson, Susumu Tonegawa, Hidde L. Ploegh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

196 Scopus citations

Abstract

The transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) delivers peptides to the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum in an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) dependent fashion for presentation by major histocompatibility complex class I molecules. We show that the mouse TAP translocator (H-2b haplotype) selects peptides based on a minimal size of nine residues, and on the presence of a hydrophobic COOH-terminal amino acid. The preponderance of COOH-terminal hydrophobic amino acids in peptides capable of binding to mouse class I molecules thus fits remarkably well with the specificity of the TAP translocator. In addition to transport in the lumenal direction, efflux of peptide in the cytosolic direction is observed in an ATP- and temperature- dependent manner. By maintaining a low peptide concentration at the site of class I assembly, this efflux mechanism may ensure that class I molecules are loaded preferentially with high affinity peptides.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)533-540
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine
Volume179
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 1994
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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