Trafficking of the Igalpha/Igbeta heterodimer with membrane Ig and bound antigen to the major histocompatibility complex class II peptide-loading compartment

J Biol Chem. 1999 Apr 16;274(16):11439-46. doi: 10.1074/jbc.274.16.11439.

Abstract

The binding of antigen to the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) initiates two major cellular events. First, upon cross-linking by antigen, the BCR induces signal transduction cascades leading to the transcription of a number of genes associated with B cell activation. Second, the BCR internalizes and delivers antigens to processing compartments, where processed antigenic peptides are loaded onto major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules for presentation to T helper cells. The BCR consists of membrane Ig (mIg) and Igalpha/Igbeta heterodimer (Igalpha/Igbeta). The Igalpha/Igbeta, the signal transducing component of the BCR, has been indicated to play a role in antigen processing. In order to understand the function of the Igalpha/Igbeta in antigen transport, we studied the intracellular trafficking pathway of the Igalpha/Igbeta. We show that in the absence of antigen binding, the Igalpha/Igbeta constitutively traffics with mIg from the plasma membrane, through the early endosomes, to the MHC class II peptide-loading compartment. Cross-linking the BCR does not alter the trafficking pathway; however, it accelerates the transport of the Igalpha/Igbeta to the MHC class II peptide-loading compartment. This suggests that the Igalpha/Igbeta heterodimer is involved in BCR-mediated antigen transport through the entire antigen transport pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Dimerization
  • Endocytosis*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / chemistry
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism*
  • Subcellular Fractions / metabolism
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments