中文 |

Newsroom

Force-induced MHC Conformational Change Critical to T-cell Receptors Antigen Discrimination

Jan 31, 2019

In a study published online in Molecular Cell, LOU Jizhong's group from Institute of Biophysics of Chinese Academy of Sciences and researchers from Zhenjiang University reported a novel dynamic structural mechanism of the antigen discrimination of T-cell receptors (TCR).

The antigen recognition by TCRs is central to adaptive immunity and potential “neoantigen” related T-cell immunotherapy. It has been demonstrated that TCR functions as a force sensor, that is, mechanical force-strengthened TCR-pMHC binding (“catch bonds”) is essential to TCR antigen recognition.

However, traditional structural models failed to explain such dynamic mechano-chemical coupling process, preventing a comprehensive understanding on the intrinsic mechanism of TCR antigen recognition.

In this study, researchers discovered mechano-chemical coupling for TCRs to successfully recognize “foreign” antigens.

Guided by agonist peptide, mechanical force unexpectedly induces pMHC conformational changes in a step-wise manner to allosterically activate new interactions that were not found in crystal structures to elicit TCR-pMHC catch bonds in both mouse and human TCR systems.

More importantly, cancer associated mutations in HLA class I that restricted such conformational change significantly suppress TCR-pMHC catch bonds, implying that HLA’s somatic mutations or even HLA genotypes (polymorphisms) along with TCR/pMHC catch bonds would be critical factors to be considered for effective T-cell based immunotherapy in future.

This study not only revealed a universal dynamic structural mechanism of mechano-chemical coupling for antigen recognitions by TCRs, but also had important clinical implications in T-cell based immunotherapies.

This work was supported by grants from Ministry of Science and Technology, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Zhejiang University.

 


Figure: Mechanical forces induced MHC conformational change to discriminate foreign and self antigens (Imaged by Dr. Lou Jizhong’s group) 

Contact

LOU Jizhong

Institute of biophysics

E-mail:

Mechano-regulation of Peptide-MHC Class I Conformations Determines TCR Antigen Recognition

Related Articles
Contact Us
  • 86-10-68597521 (day)

    86-10-68597289 (night)

  • 86-10-68511095 (day)

    86-10-68512458 (night)

  • cas_en@cas.cn

  • 52 Sanlihe Rd., Xicheng District,

    Beijing, China (100864)

Copyright © 2002 - Chinese Academy of Sciences