A critical role for tapasin in the assembly and function of multimeric MHC class I-TAP complexes

Science. 1997 Aug 29;277(5330):1306-9. doi: 10.1126/science.277.5330.1306.

Abstract

Newly assembled major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules, together with the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone calreticulin, interact with the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) through a molecule called tapasin. The molecular cloning of tapasin revealed it to be a transmembrane glycoprotein encoded by an MHC-linked gene. It is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily with a probable cytoplasmic endoplasmic reticulum retention signal. Up to four MHC class I-tapasin complexes were found to bind to each TAP molecule. Expression of tapasin in a negative mutant human cell line (220) restored class I-TAP association and normal class I cell surface expression. Tapasin expression also corrected the defective recognition of virus-infected 220 cells by class I-restricted cytotoxic T cells, establishing a critical functional role for tapasin in MHC class I-restricted antigen processing.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 3
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Antiporters / chemistry
  • Antiporters / genetics
  • Antiporters / metabolism*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Calreticulin
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Dimerization
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism
  • Genetic Linkage
  • HLA Antigens / metabolism*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / chemistry
  • Immunoglobulins / chemistry
  • Immunoglobulins / genetics
  • Immunoglobulins / metabolism*
  • Major Histocompatibility Complex / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Ribonucleoproteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 3
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Antiporters
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Calreticulin
  • HLA Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Ribonucleoproteins
  • TAP1 protein, human
  • tapasin
  • TAP2 protein, human

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF009510