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. 1990 Aug 2;346(6283):476-80.
doi: 10.1038/346476a0.

Empty MHC class I molecules come out in the cold

H G Ljunggren  1 , N J Stam, C Ohlén, J J Neefjes, P Höglund, M T Heemels, J Bastin, T N Schumacher, A Townsend, K Kärre, et al.
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Empty MHC class I molecules come out in the cold

H G Ljunggren et al. Nature. .

Abstract

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules present antigen by transporting peptides from intracellularly degraded proteins to the cell surface for scrutiny by cytotoxic T cells. Recent work suggests that peptide binding may be required for efficient assembly and intracellular transport of MHC class I molecules, but it is not clear whether class I molecules can ever assemble in the absence of peptide. We report here that culture of the murine lymphoma mutant cell line RMA-S at reduced temperature (19-33 degrees C) promotes assembly, and results in a high level of cell surface expression of H-2/beta 2-microglobulin complexes that do not present endogenous antigens, and are labile at 37 degrees C. They can be stabilized at 37 degrees C by exposure to specific peptides known to interact with H-2Kb or Db. Our findings suggest that, in the absence of peptides, class I molecules can assemble but are unstable at body temperature. The induction of such molecules at reduced temperature opens new ways to analyse the nature of MHC class I peptide interactions at the cell surface.

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