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I Berkower

Publications and source records attributed to I Berkower.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Molecular mapping of a histocompatibility-restricted immunodominant T cell epitope with synthetic and natural peptides: implications for T cell antigenic structure.

We have prepared synthetic and natural peptides that have allowed delineation of a major antigenic site of myoglobin recognized by histocompatibility (I-Ed)-restricted T cell clones. The smallest peptide capable of stimulating T cell proliferation consisted of residues 136-146. Residues Glu 136, Lys 140, and Lys 145 were essential for antigenicity, whereas Lys 133 and Tyr 146 added potency but were not required for antigenicity. The periodicity of these residues suggests that folding the peptide into its native alpha-helical structure may be essential for antigenicity either by forming a hydrophilic binding site for the T cell receptor or by participating in antigen presentation. The same folding could also produce a hydrophobic site on the opposite side of the alpha-helix that could participate in hydrophobic interactions. The extrapolation of these findings to other known peptide antigens suggests that this tendency to form an amphipathic alpha-helix may be a general property of antigenic sites recognized by T cells, perhaps due to a different functional role of each type of site in eliciting T cell responses.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

T cell clones to two major T cell epitopes of myoglobin: effect of I-A/I-E restriction on epitope dominance.

The murine T cell response to sperm whale myoglobin was analyzed for polyclonal and monoclonal T cells. For polyclonal T cells, the immunodominant epitope included residue Glu 109 when the antigen-presenting cells expressed I-Ad, whereas a Lys 140-containing epitope was immunodominant when the antigen-presenting cells expressed I-Ed only. Monoclonal T cells specific for each epitope were derived from a polyclonal line. T cell clones specific for the Glu 109 epitope were restricted to I-Ad, whereas the clones specific for the Lys 140 epitope were restricted to I-Ed. Thus, for an antigen that can be presented in association with either I-Ad or I-Ed, the immunodominance of particular epitopes depends strongly on the restriction element used. The immunodominance of each epitope-Ia combination may be due to a limited repertoire of T cells or selective presentation of epitope and Ia by accessory cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Identification of distinct predominant epitopes recognized by myoglobin-specific T cells under the control of different Ir genes and characterization of representative T cell clones.

We characterized the fine specificity of antigen recognition of myoglobin-immune T cells from B10.D2, B10.GD, and B10.A(5R) mice. Polyclonal H-2d T cells show a predominant response to an epitope centering on Glu 109 and His 116. These residues localize a dominant epitope to one segment of the myoglobin surface, but probably are not the only amino acid residues involved. This response pattern maps genetically to I-Ad (or Kd) based on the B10.GD recombinant strain. A different epitope specificity was detected in B10.A(5R) T cells mapping to I-E beta b E alpha k or I-Cd, but no difference was detected between strains differing at the Igh locus. Thus, epitope specificity varied with Ia haplotype but not Igh allotype. Myoglobin-specific B10.D2 T cell lines were established, and five clones specific for the Glu 109, His 116 epitope were isolated; these were all restricted to I-Ad antigen-presenting cells. These clones represent the dominant specificity in the polyclonal T cell response to myoglobin and will be useful in characterizing the structure and function of T cell receptors for antigen and Ia. The differences in number and nature of T cell epitopes compared to B cell epitopes of myoglobin are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

A possible immunodominant epitope recognized by murine T lymphocytes immune to different myoglobins.

We find that a single region on the surface of different species of myoglobin appears to be immunodominant for T lymphocytes, even though the residues in that region vary sufficiently that the T cells immune to one myoglobin do not crossreact with other myoglobins bearing substitutions at that site. Immunization of B10.S mice with sperm whale myoglobin elicits T-lymphocyte populations capable of recognizing sperm whale myoglobin but not horse myoglobin, whereas the converse is true when these mice are immunized with horse myoglobin. Using a series of myoglobin variants, we tested the effect of changes in primary sequence on the T-lymphocyte proliferative response. We were able to divide the myoglobin variants into two groups, depending on whether they cross stimulate sperm whale immune or horse immune T lymphocytes. The patterns of cross stimulation of both populations of myoglobin immune T lymphocytes were explained by amino acid substitutions at position 109. However, because sperm whale and horse myoglobin differ at this residue (glutamate vs. aspartate, respectively), T lymphocytes immune to each myoglobin do not crossreact with the other myoglobin. Additional data suggest that this immunodominant epitope also includes other residues nearby on the surface of the native molecule. Mixing experiments showed that the specificity was that of T lymphocytes and not antigen-presenting cells. Monoclonal anti-I-A blocking studies showed that both myoglobins are presented in association with the same Ia antigen. Possible explanations for the apparent immunodominance of this antigenic epitope, consisting of residue 109 and nearby residues on the surface of both myoglobins, include a peculiar immunogenicity of the surface topography of this site of a preferred orientation of the molecule imposed by antigen-presenting cells when T cells first encounter the antigen. The latter explanation is related to but distinct from "determinant selection." T-cell recognition of conformation is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1973

Mechanism of action of ribonuclease H isolated from avian myeloblastosis virus and Escherichia coli.

Purified preparations of RNA-dependent DNA polymerase isolated from avain myeloblastosis virus contain RNase H activity. Labeled ribohomopolymers are degraded in the presence of their complementary deoxyribopolymer, except [(3)H]poly(U).poly(dA). The degradation products formed from [(3)H]poly(A).poly(dT) were identified as oligonucleotides containing 3'-hydroxyl and 5'-phosphate termini, while AMP was not detected. The nuclease has been characterized as a processive exonuclease that requires ends of poly(A) chains for activity. Exonucleolytic attack occurs in both 5' to 3' and 3' to 5' directions.RNase H has also been purified from E. coli. This nuclease degrades all homoribopolymers tested in the presence of their complementary deoxyribopolymers to yield oligonucleotides with 5'-phosphate and 3'-hydroxyl termini. E. coli RNase H has been characterized as an endonuclease.

Avian Leukosis Virus↗
PubMed1973

Studies on in vitro DNA synthesis: purification of dna C gene product containing dna D activity from Escherichia coli.

The conversion of varphiX174 single-stranded DNA to duplex DNA by extracts of E. coli requires products of the E. coli DNA replication genes. By use of this complementation system, the dna C gene product has been purified from wild-type E. coli as well as from a dna C temperature-sensitive mutant. The latter preparations are temperature sensitive when compared to the wild-type gene product. The dna C and dna D gene products copurify, have similar characteristics, are both temperature sensitive in preparations from dna C temperature-sensitive cells, and are both undetectable in preparations from dna D temperature-sensitive cells.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Identification of a murine CD4+ T-lymphocyte response site in hepatitis C virus core protein.

The T cell response to a recombinant HCV truncated core protein (cp1-10) was measured in a proliferation assay. Based on a 10-fold greater response to this truncated core protein than to its shorter form (cp1-8), a predominant epitope was mapped to the carboxyl quarter of this sequence. This epitope was further mapped to a synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acids 121-140 of the core protein. The peptide was antigenic for T cells of all three H-2 types tested, H-2 r, b and d, and the proliferating T cells were CD4+. Besides inducing specific proliferation in vitro, peptide aa121-140 can prime helper T cells in vivo. When boosted with core protein, mice primed with peptide produced 64-fold higher antibody titer than without priming in 1 week. The identification of a broadly immunogenic T cell helper epitope on core protein may be important for vaccine design against HCV.

Amino Acid Sequence↗