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B Nag

Publications and source records attributed to B Nag.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

The role of N-linked oligosaccharides of MHC class II antigens in T cell stimulation.

A specific increase in T cell extracellular acidification rate has been demonstrated recently when complexes of purified MHC class II molecules and antigenic peptides interact with T cell receptors (TCRs) on cloned T cells. The present study shows that such measurements of an increase in extracellular acidification rate can be used to evaluate the functional role of various N-linked oligosaccharides of MHC class II antigens. Affinity-purified murine IAk and IAs were deglycosylated in the presence of aspargine-amidase enzyme and were characterized by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The complete removal of all three N-linked oligosaccharides from the alpha/beta heterodimer was confirmed by four different lectin-linked Western blot analyses. Similar to the native heterodimer, both deglycosylated IAk and deglycosylated IAs were fully capable of binding synthetic antigenic peptides derived from myelin basic protein (MBP). When equivalent amount of glycosylated and deglycosylated class II-peptide complexes were exposed to restricted cloned T cells, identical increases in T cell extracellular acidification rates were observed. The specificity of such increases in extracellular acidification rate was demonstrated by exposing cloned T cells to irrelevant complexes of glycosylated and deglycosylated class II and antigenic peptides. These results show how measurement of extracellular acidification rate can be used to study structure-function correlations of ligand-receptor interactions, and support an earlier observation that N-linked oligosaccharides of murine MHC class II molecules are not involved in either antigenic peptide binding or T cell recognition.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMed1994

Intramolecular charge heterogeneity in purified major histocompatibility class II alpha and beta polypeptide chains.

Major histocompatibility (MHC) class II antigens are heterodimeric cell surface glycoproteins consisting of an alpha and a beta chain. Although one-dimensional SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of purified MHC class II antigens shows a single diffuse band for each chain, multiple spots of identical molecular size were observed for each chain when analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis. The basis of this heterogeneity has not been clearly defined and has been predicted partially to be due to glycosylation and/or phosphorylation of the mature protein. To investigate the role of the three N-linked oligosaccharides of the alpha and beta chains in determining the isoelectric point of each chain, affinity-purified MHC class II antigens from human and rat sources were deglycosylated using asparagine amidase. The complete enzymatic removal of all three N-linked oligosaccharides was confirmed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as well as by four different lectin-linked Western blot analyses. Two-dimensional gel analysis of the deglycosylated molecules shows no significant difference from the fully glycosylated chains. We have expressed truncated forms of the HLA DR2 chains which lack the transmembrane and cytoplasmically exposed regions in Escherichia coli. Two-dimensional electrophoresis of these single chains also reveal multiple banding patterns. The two-dimensional banding patterns described are unaffected by exposure to acidic or basic conditions, increased gel running time in the first dimension, treatment of the proteins with alkaline phosphatase to remove any potential phosphorylation, or preincubation in the presence of iodoacetamide. Multiple forms of recombinant alpha and beta chains were also observed in Tris-glycine-urea gels which merged into a single band in the presence of SDS. In addition, partially fractionated bands from preparative isoelectric focusing gels, when refocused, showed an identical number of multiple spots spanning the same range of isoelectric points. These results together suggest that each polypeptide chain of MHC class II antigens may exist in multiconformational forms, and the observed charge heterogeneity is independent of glycosylation and phosphorylation of the proteins.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Separation of complexes of major histocompatibility class II molecules and known antigenic peptide by metal chelate affinity chromatography.

A small fraction of affinity-purified MHC class II molecules are known to bind antigenic peptides in vitro. No simple method with acceptable recovery exists for separation of complexes of a known antigenic epitope and MHC class II from empty MHC class II and complexes of MHC class II and endogenously bound peptide. Here we describe an one step metal chelate affinity chromatography method to purify complexes of MHC class II and antigenic peptide of known composition. Complexes of human HLA-DR2 (DRB1*1501/DRB5*0101) and a peptide analog from human myelin basic protein MBP(84-102) containing a 6 histidine tag (6 x His) and a tyrosine residue at the N-terminus end [6 x His-MBP(83-102)Y83] were prepared and purified. The absence of residual free 6 x His-MBP peptide in the complex preparations were confirmed by gel filtration and TLC analyses. The purified complexes were applied onto Ni2+.nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni2+.NTA)-agarose affinity support and 6 x His-tagged peptide class II complexes were selectively eluted with imidazole-containing buffer. The quantitation of bound peptide in the eluted complexes showed 100% occupancy of HLA-DR2 (DRB1*1501/DRB5*0101) with [6 x His-MBP(83-102)Y83] peptide with a recovery of 50-75%. The presence of a single peptide entity in the eluted complexes was confirmed by reverse-phase narrowbore HPLC analysis of the acid-extracted supernatant and by amino acid sequencing analyses. As expected, no endogenous polypeptide was detected in the Ni2+.NTA eluted complexes when analyzed by two-dimensional IEF gel electrophoresis. Finally, we demonstrate that both MBP(84-102) and [6 x His-MBP(83-102)Y83] peptides were equally capable of stimulating restricted T cell line in the presence of autologous antigen presenting cells (APCs). These results demonstrate that metal chelate affinity chromatography can be used to prepare MHC class II-peptide complexes containing single peptide. Such complexes of class II molecules containing known peptide have significant clinical relevance for antigen-specific therapy of various autoimmune diseases and may provide better understanding of the trimolecular interaction between MHC class II, antigenic peptide and T cell receptor (TCR).

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Antigen-specific deletion of cloned T cells using peptide-toxin conjugate complexed with purified class II major histocompatibility complex antigen.

In a previous report, we showed that cloned T cells incubated with soluble, cognate major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II-peptide complex internalized the peptide moiety of the complex. Here, we report antigen-specific deletion of cloned T cells by treatment with soluble, cognate MHC II-(peptide-toxin) complexes. Toxin (doxorubicin or mycophenolic acid) was attached to synthetic AcMBP(1-14)Ala4 peptide, an analog of the natural acetylated NH2-terminal segment, AcMBP(1-14), of rat myelin basic protein (MBP). IAk-restricted, AcMBP(1-14)-Specific AJ1.2 and 4R3.9 cloned murine T cells were killed by IAk-(AcMBP(1-14)Ala4-toxin). No killing resulted from incubating AJ1.2 and 4R3.9 cells with irrelevant MHC II-(peptide-toxin) or treating IEk-restricted, pigeon cytochrome c-specific A.E7 cloned murine T cells with IAk-(AcMBP(1-14)Ala4-toxin). T cell receptor-mediated T cell uptake of the peptide-toxin moiety of relevant complex was blocked by anti-T cell receptor-alpha/beta antibody and by excess toxin-free complex. LD50 determinations revealed that cognate MHC II-(peptide-toxin) killed T cells much more effectively than did peptide-toxin conjugate alone. Finally, T cell uptake of peptide-toxin and intracellular release of toxin occurred after incubation with relevant MHC II-(peptide-toxin) containing radiolabeled toxin. These findings, which provide the first evidence that cloned T cells can be deleted with soluble, cognate MHC II-(peptide-toxin) complexes, may have significant clinical relevance for antigen-specific therapy of autoimmune or other T cell-mediated diseases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Antigenic peptide binding to MHC class II molecules at increased peptide concentrations.

Affinity-purified major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules are known to bind antigenic peptides in vitro. The percentage of MHC class II molecules occupied with such peptides is usually very low and varies significantly depending upon the sequence and size of a given antigenic peptide. The present study describes a method by which complete saturation of affinity-purified MHC class II with antigenic peptide can be achieved by simply incubating purified MHC class II molecules at neutral pH in the presence of several 100-fold molar excess of antigenic peptide. Complexes of human HLA-DR2 and a peptide analog from human myelin basic protein MBP (83-102)Y83 were selected for this study. The on-rate kinetic results showed saturation of MHC class II occupancy at 300-500-fold molar excess peptide concentrations. The specificity of the MBP (83-102)Y83 peptide binding to HLA-DR2 at higher peptide concentration was demonstrated by incubating an equivalent amount of another epitope from myelin basic protein [MBP (1-14) peptide] as well as by competitive binding assays. The quantitation of bound peptide was carried out using biotinylated-MBP (83-102)Y83 peptide which showed 100-125% occupancy of HLA-DR2 with a recovery of 100%. The presence of a single peptide entity in purified complexes was confirmed by reverse-phase narrowbore HPLC analysis of the acid extracted supernatant and by mass spectrometry analysis. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (IEF/SDS) of purified HLA-DR2 and DR2.MBP (83-102)Y83 complexes showed the absence of various endogenous polypeptides in 100% loaded complexes. These results demonstrate that higher peptide concentrations can be useful in generating MHC class II-peptide complexes of defined composition. Such complexes of MHC class II occupied with a single peptide may have significant clinical relevance for antigen-specific therapy of various autoimmune diseases and may provide better understanding of MHC-peptide-TCR interactions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Specific tolerance to an acetylcholine receptor epitope induced in vitro in myasthenia gravis CD4+ lymphocytes by soluble major histocompatibility complex class II-peptide complexes.

In autoimmune disorders, inactivation of pathogenic antigen-specific T cells, rather than global immunosuppression, would be highly desirable. One way to achieve this would be to deliver the first antigen-specific signal to the T cell in the absence of the second costimulatory signal. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a well-characterized autoimmune disease in which T cell-dependent autoantibodies are directed against the acetylcholine receptor (A ChR) at the neuromuscular junction. AChR-specific T cells have been cloned from MG patients, and in this study, we have induced long-lasting tolerance in vitro in one particular clone (PM-A1) with a known peptide epitope (alpha 144-163) and MHC class II restriction (DR4 Dw14.2 or 4.2) by using soluble MHC-class II peptide complexes. Preincubation of PM-A1 T cells with such complexes induced death by apoptosis in < or = 40-50% of the AChR-specific cells. Surviving cells remained refractory to stimulation with AChR-derived synthetic peptides or recombinant polypeptides for < or = 38 d after complex treatment. These effects were highly specific, dose-dependent and required > 2 h preincubation. The T cells could be protected from the tolerizing effects of complex by coincubation with DR-matched or -mismatched antigen-presenting cells. This work shows that antigen-specific T cells can be selectively killed or anergized using soluble MHC class II: peptide complexes. Such an antigen-specific therapy offers a rational approach to the immunotherapy of autoimmune or allergic disease in vivo.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Cloned T cells internalize peptide from bound complexes of peptide and purified class II major histocompatibility complex antigen.

Antigen presentation to helper T cells involves the formation of a trimolecular complex consisting of a class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen combined with an antigenic peptide on the surface of an antigen-presenting cell and a T cell receptor (TCR) on the T cell. The fate of the MHC class II, peptide, or TCR moieties of the ternary complex following antigen presentation is unknown. Using radiolabeled complexes of affinity-purified murine MHC class II molecules and peptides corresponding to T cell epitopes of myelin basic protein (MBP), this report presents evidence that the binding of preformed relevant MHC class II-peptide complexes to cloned T cells in vitro results in internalization of the peptide moiety. Neither the restricting MHC class II molecule nor the TCR moiety of the trimolecular complex was internalized by T cells. The specificity of peptide internalization was demonstrated using complexes of syngeneic MHC class II with an irrelevant MBP peptide analog and by cloned T cells restricted for a different epitope of the same MBP antigen. Furthermore, the peptide translocation mediated by MHC class II and TCR was demonstrated by antibody-blocking experiments using anti-class and anti-TCR monoclonal antibodies. The peptide internalization by T cells was markedly reduced when binding was performed at 4 degrees C as compared with 37 degrees C. In addition, a significant inhibition of peptide translocation was observed in the presence of a metabolic inhibitor (sodium azide) but not in the presence of cytochalasin B. These results together demonstrate that the in vitro interaction of soluble MHC II-peptide complexes with cloned T cells is an active process associated with uptake of the antigenic peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Stimulation of T cells by antigenic peptide complexed with isolated chains of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules are heterodimeric glycoproteins with one alpha and one beta polypeptide chain of similar molecular size. In this report, we describe the binding of an acetylated N-terminal peptide of myelin basic protein, [Ala4]MBP-(1-14), to purified individual alpha and beta chains of murine I-Ak molecules. Purified complexes of isolated single chains and antigenic peptide bind to cloned T cells restricted by I-Ak and [Ala4]MBP-(1-14) tetradecapeptide. The binding is blocked by alpha/beta anti-T-cell receptor (TCR) monoclonal antibody. Cell triggering as measured by an increase in extracellular acidification rate is observed when cloned T cells are exposed to purified complexes of isolated chains and antigenic peptide. This increase in the extracellular acidification rate is antigen specific and MHC-restricted, as chains alone or irrelevant chain-peptide complexes do not trigger an increase in the metabolic acidification rate. These results together demonstrate that in vitro cloned T cells are triggered by complexes of specific antigenic peptides and isolated individual chains of their cognate MHC proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Purified beta-chain of MHC class II binds to CD4 molecules on transfected HeLa cells.

The initial event triggering the activation of Th cells occurs when the TCR interacts with antigenic peptide in the context of the MHC II on APC. Various T cell accessory molecules including CD4, CD28, and LFA-1 participate and facilitate the activation event. Although some evidence for the interaction of MHC II and CD4 is available, the site of MHC class II (alpha-chain, beta-chain, or both chains) for CD4 interaction has not yet been clearly defined. Results from different laboratories had indicated the involvement of alpha 1, beta 1, and beta 2 domains of MHC class II molecules in CD4 interaction. Recently, a conserved site of DR beta 2 domain has been identified that involves CD4 interaction that is analogous to MHC class I binding site for CD8 molecule. In this report, direct binding of affinity-purified HLA-DR2 dimer and its isolated alpha- and beta-chains to CD4 was studied using a CD4-transfected HeLa cell line. Preferential binding of the beta-chain and intact MHC II dimer to the CD4-transfected cells was observed and found to be specifically inhibited by anti-CD4 mAb. In contrast, the isolated alpha-chain of HLA DR2 did not show significant binding to CD4-transfected cells. Complexes of radiolabeled DR2 dimer or beta-chain alone with an immunodominant epitope from myelin basic protein (83-102) did not show any further increase in binding of these molecules. Binding of the beta-chain to CD4+ cells was markedly inhibited by a DR beta 1 peptide (35-46) and was partially inhibited by a DR beta 2 peptide (134-148) of MHC class II molecule. These results suggest the involvement of at least two conserved regions of the beta polypeptide chain of MHC class II in CD4 interaction. Because in our experiments transfected cells lack TCR molecules and the binding of DR2 to the CD4-transfected cells was unaffected by added antigenic peptide, it is possible that the interaction of MHC class II to CD4 is independent of TCR occupancy.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

The polar phase response property of monopolar ECG voltages using a Computer-Aided Design and Drafting (CAD)-based data acquisition system.

The present paper discusses a Computer-Aided Design and Drafting (CAD) based data acquisition and polar phase response study of the ECG. The scalar ECG does not show vector properties although such properties are embedded in it. In the present paper the polar phase response property of monopolar chest lead (V1 to V6) ECG voltages has been studied. A software tool has been used to evaluate the relative phase response of ECG voltages. The data acquisition of monopolar ECG records of chest leads V1 to V6 from the chart recorder has been done with the help of the AutoCAD application package. The spin harmonic constituents of ECG voltages are evaluated at each harmonic plane and the polar phase responses are studied at each plane. Some interesting results have been observed in some typical cases which are discussed in the paper.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1992

Preparative-scale purification and characterization of MHC class II monomers.

The MHC class II molecule is a heterodimeric glycoprotein consisting of one alpha and one beta polypeptide chain of almost identical molecular size. Recently it has been shown by others, and confirmed in our laboratory, that isolated monomers of murine MHC II molecules are capable of binding antigenic peptides like the alpha/beta intact heterodimer. In addition, preliminary results from our laboratory indicate that isolated single chain-peptide complexes of murine MHC class II molecules are capable of stimulating cloned T cells in an antigen specific manner. These results prompted us to isolate relatively large quantities of individual alpha and beta subunits of MHC II molecules for further in vitro and in vivo studies. Isolation of alpha and beta monomers proved to be difficult using conventional chromatographic methods. In this report we describe micro-preparative and preparative continuous flow electrophoresis methods by which milligram quantities of MHC II subunits can be purified. An optimal condition for the dissociation of heterodimeric MHC II into alpha and beta monomers was identified, and separation of human HLA DR2 and murine IAs monomers was accomplished. Both methods offer the resolving power of gel electrophoresis with the convenience of continuous sample elution. Purified MHC II subunits obtained by these methods were tested for their ability to bind antigenic peptides. Results presented in this study indicate that monomeric subunits of both human HLA-DR2 and murine IAs are equally active in specific binding of antigenic peptides like the native heterodimer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

N-linked oligosaccharides of murine major histocompatibility complex class II molecule. Role in antigenic peptide binding, T cell recognition, and clonal nonresponsiveness.

To evaluate the functional role of the N-linked oligosaccharides of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules, affinity-purified murine IAs class II molecules were deglycosylated in the presence of asparagine amidase enzyme. The deglycosylated IAs molecules were characterized by 12% SDS-polyacrylamide gel analysis under reduced and native conditions and the complete enzymatic removal of all three N-linked sugar components from the alpha/beta heterodimer was confirmed by lectin-link Western blot analysis. Like the native IAs molecules, the deglycosylated IAs molecules were fully capable of binding an antigenic peptide from myelin basic protein MBP(89-101). The kinetics of dissociation of preformed complexes of IAs.MBP(89-101) and deglycosylated IAs.MBP(89-101) were compared at 4 and at 37 degrees C. Both complexes were equally stable at 4 degrees C; however, at 37 degrees C the deglycosylated IAs.MBP(89-101) complexes showed an increased rate of dissociation as compared with the native IAs.MBP(89-101) complexes. When tested for their ability to recognize the T cell receptor on T cells, both complexes bound to cloned HS-1 T cells that recognize and respond to IAs.MBP(89-101). Finally, the complexes of deglycosylated IAs.MBP(89-101) were tested for the induction of in vitro nonresponsiveness and compared with native IAs.MBP(89-101) complexes. Both complexes were capable of inducing 95-100% nonresponsiveness in a proliferation assay. These results suggest that the N-linked oligosaccharide of MHC class II molecules may not be essential for either antigenic peptide binding or T cell recognition. In addition results obtained here provide evidence that the carbohydrate moities of MHC class II molecules may not be involved in induction of T cell clonal anergy.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMed1992

Antigen-specific stimulation of T cell extracellular acidification by MHC class II-peptide complexes.

A specific T cell response to a preformed complex of detergent-solubilized MHC class II molecule and cognate antigenic peptide was observed by monitoring the extracellular acidification. An increase in this rate was observed when the resting 4R3.9 T cell clone specific for the peptide fragment MBP(1-14) of myelin basic protein was exposed to preformed detergent-solubilized IAk-MBP(1-14)A4 complexes. MBP peptide alone, IAk alone, or complexes of IAs-proteolipid protein(139-151) and IAd-OVA(323-339), did not cause significant increases in the acidification rates of the MBP(1-14)-restricted 4R3.9 T cell clone. In addition, BW 5147 T lymphoma cells, which lack TCR, did not show any increase in rate when exposed to IAk-MBP(1-14)A4 complexes. Similar increases in acidification rate were observed in the presence of IL-2, anti-CD3 and anti-TCR antibodies. The enhanced acidification responses were blocked by genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Acids↗
PubMed1992

In vitro maximum binding of antigenic peptides to murine MHC class II molecules does not always take place at the acidic pH of the in vivo endosomal compartment.

Presentation of Ag to the T cell requires binding of specific peptide fragments of the Ag to MHC II molecules. The ability of a peptide to bind to MHC class II appears to be pH dependent. Recent reports indicate that the binding of peptide to MHC class II molecules takes place primarily within an endosomal compartment of the cell at around pH 5. In this study, we have explored the in vitro pH dependence of peptide binding to different haplotypes of murine MHC class II molecules. The binding of peptides to MHC II was analyzed and quantitated by silica gel TLC, using radiolabeled peptides. The MBP peptide fragments, MBP(1-14)A4 and MBP(88-101)Y88, bound maximally at pH 8 to IAk and IAs, respectively. The binding of PLP peptide fragment, PLP(138-151)Y138, to IAs was maximal at around neutral pH. The maximum binding of an OVA peptide fragment, OVA(323-340)Y340, to IAd, was found to occur at pH 6. Results presented in this report thus suggest that the in vitro maximum binding of peptide is pH dependent and does not always occur at pH 5. The optimum pH range for maximum binding may depend on the nature and net charge of the peptide and its interaction with MHC class II molecules.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Antigen-specific therapy of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by soluble class II major histocompatibility complex-peptide complexes.

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis is a T-cell-mediated, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II gene-linked autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. To develop therapies that will specifically inactivate only the autoantigen-reactive T cells, mice were treated with soluble MHC class II molecules that had been complexed with encephalitogenic peptides. Intravenous injections of 300 micrograms of complexes consisting of encephalitogenic peptide 91-103 of myelin basic protein plus I-As protein on day 0, 4, and 7 were effective in preventing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Similarly, administration of 45 micrograms of I-As protein complexed to peptide 139-151 from proteolipoprotein on day 1, 4, and 7 prevented mortality and significantly reduced paralysis induced by immunization with the encephalitogenic proteolipoprotein peptide. Histological examination of sections of animal brains revealed that treatment with I-As protein plus myelin basic protein 91-103 peptide prevents the development of inflammatory lesions characteristic of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Thus, treatment with MHC-self-peptide complexes could serve as a highly specific therapeutic modality in treating autoimmune disease when the putative autoantigen and the MHC restricting elements are known.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Monoclonal antibodies to Escherichia coli ribosomal proteins L9 and L10. Effects on ribosome function and localization of L9 on the surface of the 50 S ribosomal subunit.

Monoclonal antibodies against Escherichia coli ribosomal proteins L9 and L10 were obtained and their specificity confirmed by Western blot analysis of total ribosomal protein. This was particularly important for the L9 antibody, since the immunizing antigen mixture contained predominantly L11. Each antibody recognized both 70 S ribosomes and 50 S subunits. Affinity-purified antibodies were tested for their effect on in vitro assays of ribosome function. Anti-L10 and anti-L9 inhibited poly(U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis almost completely. The antibodies had no effect on subunit association or dissociation and neither antibody inhibited peptidyltransferase activity. Both antibodies inhibited the binding of the ternary complex that consisted of aminoacyl-tRNA, guanylyl beta, gamma-methylenediphosphonate, and elongation factor Tu, and the binding of elongation factor G to the ribosome. The intact antibodies were more potent inhibitors than the Fab fragments. In contrast to the previously established location of L10 at the base of the L7/L12 stalk near the factor-binding site, the site of anti-L9 binding to 50 S subunits was shown by immune electron microscopy to be on the L1 lateral protuberance opposite the L7/L12 stalk as viewed in the quasisymmetric projection. The inhibition of factor binding by both antibodies, although consistent with established properties of L10 in the ribosome, suggests a long range effect on subunit structure that is triggered by the binding of anti-L9.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Novel methods to rapidly and sensitively analyze antigenic peptide binding to MHC class II molecules.

One of the important steps for antigen presentation by MHC class II molecules involves binding of a peptide fragment of the antigen to the class II molecule followed by recognition of the resulting complex by T cells. The most commonly used methods for studying binding of peptide to MHC II are: equilibrium dialysis, gel filtration chromatography, HPLC and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Each of these methods has some limitations and is time consuming. In addition, each requires a considerable amount of native MHC class II, which is always difficult to obtain. In this report, we describe three different sensitive methods using radiolabeled peptide to study peptide binding to murine MHC class II molecules. These are: nitrocellulose filter binding, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) using plate-supported silica gel or PEI cellulose, and paper electrophoresis using Sepraphor cellulose polyacetate paper. All three methods are rapid, highly sensitive and require only ng quantities of affinity pure MHC class II molecules and peptides. These methods can be used to calculate the peptide occupancy of MHC class II molecules.

Animals↗