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A R Castaño

Publications and source records attributed to A R Castaño.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Nonclassical binding of formylated peptide in crystal structure of the MHC class Ib molecule H2-M3.

H2-M3 is a class Ib MHC molecule of the mouse with a 10(4)-fold preference for binding N-formylated peptides. To elucidate the basis of this unusual specificity, we expressed and crystallized a soluble form of M3 with a formylated nonamer peptide, fMYFINILTL, and determined the structure by X-ray crystallography. M3, refined at 2.1 A resolution, resembles class la MHC molecules in its overall structure, but differs in the peptide-binding groove. The A pocket, which usually accommodates the free N-terminus of a bound peptide, is closed, and the peptide is shifted one residue, such that the P1 side chain is lodged in the B pocket. The formyl group is coordinated by His-9 and a bound water on the floor of the groove.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Peptide binding and presentation by mouse CD1.

CD1 molecules are distantly related to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I proteins. They are of unknown function. Screening random peptide phage display libraries with soluble empty mouse CD1 (mCD1) identified a peptide binding motif. It consists of three anchor positions occupied by aromatic or bulky hydrophobic amino acids. Equilibrium binding studies demonstrated that mCD1 binds peptides containing the appropriate motif with relatively high affinity. However, in contrast to classical MHC class I molecules, strong binding to mCD1 required relatively long peptides. Peptide-specific, mCD1-restricted T cell responses can be raised, which suggests that the findings are of immunological significance.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Nonclassical behavior of the thymus leukemia antigen: peptide transporter-independent expression of a nonclassical class I molecule.

The thymus leukemia (TL) antigen is a major histocompatibility complex-encoded nonclassical class I molecule. Here we present data demonstrating that expression of the TL antigen, unlike other class I molecules, is completely independent of the function of the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP). The TL antigen is expressed by transfected TAP-2-deficient RMA-S cells when these cells are grown at 37 degrees C. In transfected RMA cells, the kinetics of arrival of TL antigen on the cell surface are similar to those of a classical class I molecule. The kinetics are not altered in TAP-deficient RMA-S cells, demonstrating that surface TL expression in TAP-deficient cells is not due to the stable expression of a few molecules that leak out by a TAP-independent pathway. Soluble TL molecules produced by Drosophila melanogaster cells are highly resistant to thermal denaturation, unlike peptide-free classical class I molecules synthesized by these insect cells. In addition, these soluble TL molecules are devoid of detectable bound peptides. The results demonstrate that the TL antigen is capable of reaching the surface without bound peptide, although acquisition of peptide or some other ligand through a TAP-independent pathway cannot be formally excluded. We speculate that the ability of the TL antigen to reach the cell surface, under conditions in which other class I molecules do not, may be related to a specialized function of the TL molecule in the mucosal immune system, and possibly in the stimulation of intestinal gamma delta T cells.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1991

Structural identity between HLA-A2 antigens differentially recognized by alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Alloreactive CTL raised against HLA-A2 Ag often display heterogeneous recognition of HLA-A2+ target cells. This heterogeneity has been found to reflect structural polymorphism among the corresponding target Ag, thus defining HLA-A2 subtypes. A previous study (van der Poel et al. 1986. Human Immunol. 16:247) established the existence of a new HLA-A2.4 variant, A2-SCHU, that was distinguished from A*0206 (A2.4a) by HLA-A2-specific alloreactive CTL. The same CTL subdivided HLA-A2.1 Ag into two subgroups. In the present study, the molecular basis of this heterogeneity has been examined by double-label comparative peptide mapping analysis of differentially recognized A2.1 and A2.4 Ag. In addition, we have determined the complete sequence of polymerase chain reaction-amplified full length cDNA from A2-SCHU. The results show that: 1) A2-SCHU is indistinguishable from A*0206 by peptide mapping; 2) the cDNA sequence of A2-SCHU is identical to that of A*0206; and 3) two differentially recognized A2.1 Ag are both indistinguishable from A*0201 by comparative peptide mapping. These results indicate that differential recognition by alloreactive CTL can occur among structurally identical class I HLA Ag and suggest that allorecognition by such CTL may involve corecognition of endogenous peptides, presumably derived from polymorphic proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Structure of the HLA-A*0204 antigen, found in South American Indians. Spatial clustering of HLA-A2 subtype polymorphism.

The primary structure of the HLA-A2 subtype A*0204 (isoelectric focusing variant A2.4) has been determined. cDNA encoding this subtype was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction. Four independent full-length cDNA clones encoding A*0204 were analyzed to obtain a consensus sequence for this subtype. A*0204 differs from A*0201 by a single nucleotide change of G to T through the coding regions, resulting in an Arg to Met change at position 97. This substitution accounts for the isoelectric focusing pattern of the subtype. The same change occurs in other HLA-A specificities in association with other changes in its vicinity. The absence of additional substitutions in A*0204 suggests that it could have arisen from A*0201 by point mutation, and that recurrent mutations may take place during HLA diversification. The spatial location of this change implies that A*0204 must be a functional variant. Comparison of its sequence with other HLA-A2 subtypes reveals that much of the HLA-A2 subtype polymorphism is generated by variations in four neighboring positions, including position 97, which are located in two adjacent beta-strands on the floor of the peptide binding site of the molecule.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Studies on evolutionary and selective properties of hypercycles using a Monte Carlo method.

The most relevant properties of hypercycles were previously studied mainly from a theoretical point of view. We have developed a Monte Carlo method simulating hypercyclic organization to obtain information about the dynamics of this prebiotic organization. Nucleation, growth, and selective properties have been tested and the results obtained are in good agreement with those of the theoretical predictions. The influence of hypercyclic organization on the "error threshold" has also been studied. As a consequence of the emergence of a hypercycle, the value of this threshold decreases. The amount of this decrease depends on the population size. Moreover, for some interval of quality factor values, either the hypercycle organization or an error catastrophe can be produced, depending on the initial conditions. The influence of these phenomena on both the dynamic behavior and evolutionary advantages of the hypercycle, as well as their decisive roles on genome size, are discussed.

Biological Evolution↗