SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “peptide binding”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

PubMed1993

A conservative mutation in a class I MHC molecule outside the peptide binding groove stimulates responses to self peptides.

A transgenic mouse has been made that expresses a mutant MHC class I H-2Kb molecule with glutamic acid at position 65 (E65) in place of glutamine. The side chain at position 65, on the outward face of the alpha-helix of the alpha 1 domain of the class I molecule, interacts with the TCR, and not with the peptide binding groove. The transgenic mouse, on a DBA/2 background, mounts Kb,E65-restricted Ag-specific responses to conventional Kb-restricted Ag such as OVA and vesicular stomatitis virus, and shows strong alloreactivity to wild-type Kb. The transgenic mouse also mounts a primary in vitro alloreactive response directed to a mutant molecule with aspartic acid at position 65 (D65). This response is relatively weak, probably because of the structural similarities between aspartic and glutamic acid side chains; both have carboxylic termini, and the aspartic acid side chain is shorter by a single secondary carbon. The alloreactive CTL lines elicited by this conservative change are cross-reactive among several position-65 variants of H-2Kb. Individual CTL clones are specific for self peptides that can be extracted from cells expressing Kb,E65, and from purified wild-type Kb molecules, and that are recognized in the context of the D65 residue. Thus, the smallest variance from self in a class I molecule, even outside the peptide binding groove, can be antigenic.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Identification of an erythrocyte binding peptide from the erythrocyte binding antigen, EBA-175, which blocks parasite multiplication and induces peptide-blocking antibodies.

A biotinylated peptide covering a sequence of 21 amino acids (aa) from the erythrocyte binding antigen (EBA-175) of Plasmodium falciparum bound to human glycophorin A, an erythrocyte receptor for merozoites, as demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and to erythrocytes as demonstrated by flow cytometry analysis. The peptide, EBA(aa1076-96), also bound to desialylated glycophorin A and glycophorin B when tested by ELISA. The peptide blocked parasite multiplication in vitro. The glycophorin A binding sequence was further delineated to a 12-aa sequence, EBA(aa1085-96), by testing the binding of a range of truncated peptides to immobilized glycophorin A. Our data indicate that EBA(aa1085-96) is part of a ligand on the merozoite for binding to erythrocyte receptors. This binding suggests that the EBA(aa1085-96) peptide is involved in a second binding step, independent of sialic acid. Antibody recognition of this peptide sequence may protect against merozoite invasion, but only a small proportion of sera from adults from different areas of malaria transmission showed antibody reactivities to the EBA(aa1076-96) peptide, indicating that this sequence is only weakly immunogenic during P. falciparum infections in humans. However, Tanzanian children with acute clinical malaria showed high immunoglobulin G reactivity to the EBA(aa1076-96) peptide compared to children with asymptomatic P. falciparum infections. The EBA(aa1076-96) peptide sequence from EBA-175 induced antibody formation in mice after conjugation of the peptide with purified protein derivative. These murine sera inhibited EBA(aa1076-96) peptide binding to glycophorin A.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Binding of La3+ to calmodulin and its effects on the interaction between calmodulin and calmodulin binding peptide, polistes mastoparan.

Binding of La(3+) to calmodulin (CaM) and its effects on the complexes of CaM and CaM-binding peptide, polistes mastoparan (Mas), were investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy, and by the fluorescence stopped-flow method. The four binding sites of La(3+) on CaM were identified as the same as the binding sites of Ca(2+) on CaM through NMR titration of La(3+) to uniformly (15)N-labeled CaM. La(3+) showed a slightly higher affinity to the binding sites on the N-terminal domain of CaM than that to the C-terminal. Large differences between the (1)H-(15)N heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) spectra of Ca(4)CaM and La(4)CaM suggest conformational differences between the two complexes. Fluorescence and CD spectra also exhibited structural differences. In the presence of Ca(2+) and La(3+), a hybrid complex, Ca(2)La(2)CaM, was formed, and the binding of La(3+) to the N-terminal domain of CaM seemed preferable over binding to the C-terminal domain. Through fluorescence titration, it was shown that La(4)CaM and Ca(2)La(2)CaM had similar affinities to Mas as Ca(4)CaM. Fluorescence stopped-flow experiments showed that the dissociation rate of La(3+) from the C-terminal domain of CaM was higher than that from the N-terminal. However, in the presence of Mas, the dissociation rate of La(3+) decreased and the dissociation processes from both global domains were indistinguishable. In addition, compared with the case of Ca(4)CaM-Mas, the slower dissociations of Mas from La(4)CaM-Mas and Ca(2)La(2)CaM-Mas complexes indicate that in the presence of La(3+), the CaM-Mas complex became kinetically inert. A possible role of La(3+) in the Ca(2+)-CaM-dependent pathway is discussed.

Apoproteins↗

PubMed2006

Peptide binding motif predictive algorithms correspond with experimental binding of leukemia vaccine candidate peptides to HLA-A*0201 molecules.

The ability to reliably identify the peptides that can bind to MHC molecules is of practical importance for rapid vaccine development. Several computer-based prediction methods have been applied to study the interaction of MHC class I/peptide binding. Here we have compared the binding of peptides predicted by three algorithms (BIMAS, SYFPEITHI and Rankpep) to the binding of the peptides to HLA-A*0201 molecules in vitro, assessed using a MHC stabilization assay on live T2 cells. Fifty HLA-A*0201 peptides were selected from several target oncoproteins: Wilms' tumor protein (WT1), native and imatinib-mutated bcr-abl p210, JAK2 protein and Ewing's sarcoma fusion protein type 1. The sensitivity and specificity of BIMAS, SYFPEITHI and Rankpep respectively, were: 86%, and 82%; 75% and 73%; 64% and 82%. Combining two or more computer methods did not appear to significantly improve the predictive value.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1994

Testing the importance of each residue in a HLA-B27-binding peptide using monoclonal antibodies.

When a peptide derived from histone 3.3 was incubated with mouse L cells transfected with HLA-B27, the cells became highly reactive with Ye-2, an anti-HLA-B27 mAb. The critical residues were analyzed by testing analogues in which each of the nine residues in the peptide was consecutively substituted by 19 other amino acids. The conclusions were separately verified using a different HLA-B27-positive cell line. The ability of some of these peptides to bind to HLA-B27 was also assayed by their ability to stabilize HLA-B27 in a mutant cell line which required HLA-B27-binding peptides to express HLA-B27 at 37 degrees C. These experiments showed that in P4, P5, P6, P7, P8, and P9, all 20 different amino acids could be substituted without eliminating the ability of the analogues to bind to HLA-B27. The residues which were responsible for the HLA-B27-peptide complex reacting with the Ye-2 antibody were P8 and P9. The latter might mediate its effect by altering either the surface conformation of the closely associated HLA-B27 heavy chain or the conformation of the peptide itself.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Heat shock protein 70 moderately enhances peptide binding and transport by the transporter associated with antigen processing.

Hsp70 molecules are capable of binding antigenic peptides and eliciting CTL responses to the bound peptide. However, the precise mechanism for the induction of CTL has not been determined. One possibility is that hsp molecules can directly shuttle peptides in the MHC class I antigen processing and presentation pathway, as previously postulated. Here, we have addressed this issue by testing the effect of purified hsp70 molecules on peptide binding and transport by the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP). Our results indicate that purified hsp70 molecules moderately enhance TAP function. In addition, we detect a physical association between hsp70 molecules and TAP, as well as the homologous drug transporter P-glycoprotein. We conclude that while hsp70 molecules may not be directly involved in the delivery of peptide to TAP, they may play an important role in TAP transport by binding to TAP and promoting its function.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed1998

Structural transitions accompanying the activation of peptide binding to the endoplasmic reticulum Hsp90 chaperone GRP94.

GRP94, the endoplasmic reticulum Hsp90 paralog, binds a diverse array of peptides, a subset of which are suitable for assembly onto nascent MHC class I molecules. At present, the mechanism, site, and regulation of peptide binding to GRP94 are unknown. Using VSV8, the immunodominant peptide epitope of the vesicular stomatitis virus, and native, purified GRP94, we have investigated GRP94-peptide complex formation. The formation of stable GRP94-VSV8 complexes was slow; competition studies demonstrated that peptide binding to GRP94 was specific. VSV8 binding to GRP94 was stimulated 2-fold or 4-fold, respectively, following chemical denaturation/renaturation or transient heat shock. The activation of GRP94-peptide binding occurred coincident with a stable, tertiary conformational change, as identified by tryptophan fluorescence and proteolysis studies. Analysis of GRP94 secondary structure by circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated an identical alpha-helical content for the native, chemically denatured/renatured, and heat-shocked forms of GRP94. Through use of the environment-sensitive fluorophores acrylodan and Nile Red, it was observed that the activation of peptide binding was accompanied by enhanced peptide and solvent accessibility to a hydrophobic binding site(s). Peptide binding to native or activated GRP94 was identical in the presence or absence of ATP or ADP. These results are discussed with respect to a model in which peptide binding to GRP94 occurs within a hydrophobic binding pocket whose accessibility is conformationally regulated in an adenine nucleotide-independent manner.

2-Naphthylamine↗

PubMed2004

A polymorphic pocket at the P10 position contributes to peptide binding specificity in class II MHC proteins.

Peptides bind to class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins in an extended conformation. Pockets in the peptide binding site spaced to accommodate peptide side chains at the P1, P4, P6, and P9 positions have been previously characterized and help to explain the obtained peptide binding specificity. However, two peptides differing only at P10 have significantly different binding affinities for HLA-DR1. The structure of HLA-DR1 in complex with the tighter binding peptide shows that the peptide binds in the usual polyproline type II conformation, but with the P10 residue accommodated in a shallow pocket at the end of the binding groove. HLA-DR1 variants with polymorphic residues at these positions were produced and found to exhibit different side chain specificity at the P10 position. These results define a new specificity position in HLA-DR proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Supermotif peptide binding and degeneracy of MHC: peptide recognition in an EBV peptide-specific CTL response with highly restricted TCR usage.

We have investigated the presentation and CTL recognition of an HLA A*1101-restricted CTL peptide epitope AVFDRKSDAK (AVF)(3), derived from the EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) 4, in the context of alleles belonging to the A3-supertype, A*0101, 0301, 1101, 3101, 3301, and 6801. The peptide binds to a A*6801 molecule as efficiently as to A*1101. The A*6801:AVF complex is recognized by some A*1101-restricted AVF- specific CTL clones. However, A*6801-positive (A*6801+) EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) are not killed by the same effectors. Furthermore, two A*6801+ donors did not mount an AVF-specific CTL response in vitro and lacked detectable AVF-specific effectors. Thus, this epitope is either subdominant, or non-immunogenic in the context of A*6801. These characteristics correlate with low stability of this MHC:peptide complex in living cells. We also demonstrate that a highly conserved AVF-specific TCR that dominates the AVF-specific CTL response in the majority of A*1101+ individuals recognizes the A*6801 molecule as a crossreactive alloantigen. Therefore, deletion of AVF-specific T cells may contribute to the non-immunogenicity or subdominance of the peptide in A*6801+ individuals.

Alleles↗

PubMed2000

Flow cytometric analysis of peptide binding to major histocampatibility complex class I for hepatitis C virus core T-cell epitopes.

BACKGROUND/METHODS: To characterize the repertoire of T-cell epitopes on the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein, we studied major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I binding of 75 decapeptides on 20 human B-cell lines and murine spleen cells using a flow cytometric assay. The results were compared with MHC class I stabilization on T2 cells, the SYFPEITHI algorithm, and known T-cell epitopes from the literature. RESULTS: Binding of peptides proved to be specific for MHC class I molecules. We observed peak fluorescence signals at positions amino acids (aa) 35-44, aa 87-96, aa 131-140, and aa 167-176 in virtually all HLA-A2-positive cell lines. These sites corresponded to T-cell epitopes predicted by SYFPEITHI and the positions of known T-cell epitopes, whereas T2 stabilization was at variance for two peptides. The assay was applied to HLA-A2-negative cells and murine spleen cells without further modification, and identified additional peptides, corresponding to known T-cell epitopes. CONCLUSIONS: Peptide binding to different MHC class I alleles can be mapped rapidly by a flow cytometric assay and enables a first orientation on the sites of possible T-cell epitopes. Application of this assay to HCV core suggests a rather limited repertoire of epitopes in the Caucasoid population.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Both major and minor peptide-binding pockets in HLA-A2 influence the presentation of influenza virus matrix peptide to cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Most of the polymorphic residues in class I MHC molecules are concentrated in the alpha 1- and alpha 2-domains with their side chains pointing towards the antigen peptide site. Previous crystal structure analysis revealed six pockets inside the peptide-binding groove and the "extra" electron density in some of the pockets indicated that the pockets are involved in direct peptide binding. In order to investigate the functional role of individual positions from each pocket in antigen presentation, 37 HLA-A2 variants with single amino acid substitution in the peptide-binding groove were generated and used to analyse the specificity of influenza A virus matrix peptide-specific, HLA-A2-restricted CTL. The ability to present peptide by each variant was studied in detail by peptide titration, cold target inhibition, time course and limiting dilution analysis. The direct effect on peptide binding by these substitutions was determined by cell surface class I MHC molecule reconstitution analysis. The results demonstrated that each of the six peptide binding pockets plays a role in T cell recognition. Substitutions introduced into pocket F had less effect on CTL recognition than substitutions introduced in other pockets. With the exception of Tyr substitution for Phe9, single amino acid substitutions in the peptide-binding groove had only minor effects on peptide binding. Therefore, the impact of the substitutions in altering the epitopes recognized by CTL seems to be mediated through an alteration in the conformation of the bound peptide.

Antigen Presentation↗

PubMed1999

Peptide binding inhibits aggregation of soluble MHC class II in solution.

Affinity-purified major histocompatability complex (MHC) class II molecules are known to bind antigenic peptide in vitro. This peptide-bound MHC class II is known to undergo a change in structure upon stable binding of antigenic peptide. Previous results from our, and other laboratories, have suggested a relationship between MHC class II structure and peptide association that enables class II to enter into a stable conformation upon peptide binding. In this report we describe that stable binding of high-affinity antigenic peptide to MHC class II molecule results in transition of aggregated purified MHC class II proteins to a stable heterodimeric state. Such transition was demonstrated by using purified human HLA-DR2 class II molecule and high-affinity myelin basic protein (MBP) 83-102)Y83 peptide. Highly aggregated purified DR2 (high molecular weight; HMW) was first separated from heterodimer (low molecular weight: LMW) in the presence of 50-fold molar excess of MBP(83-102)Y83 peptide. We then show that the aggregated HMW preparation can be successfully converted into a stable dimer by further incubation with MBP(83-102)Y83 and changing various binding parameters such as pH, temperature, reducing agent, and peptide concentrations. Under optimized conditions, the highly aggregated inactive DR2 molecules can be completely loaded with the antigenic peptide. The transformed heterodimers with bound peptide prepared by this method are biologically active, as shown by their ability to induce the production of gamma-interferon by SS8T-transformed human T cells. These results suggest that in solution, MHC class II molecules may be aggregated in the absence of bound peptide. Such aggregated MHC class II molecules can be converted to stable and biologically active heterodimers in the presence of high-affinity antigenic peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Prediction of MHC class I binding peptides using profile motifs.

Peptides that bind to a given major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule share sequence similarity. Therefore, a position specific scoring matrix (PSSM) or profile derived from a set of peptides known to bind to a specific MHC molecule would be a suitable predictor of whether other peptides might bind, thus anticipating possible T-cell epitopes within a protein. In this approach, the binding potential of any peptide sequence (query) to a given MHC molecule is linked to its similarity to a group of aligned peptides known to bind to that MHC, and can be obtained by comparing the query to the PSSM. This article describes the derivation of alignments and profiles from a collection of peptides known to bind a specific MHC, compatible with the structural and molecular basis of the peptide-MHC class I (MHCI) interaction. Moreover, in order to apply these profiles to the prediction of peptide-MHCI binding, we have developed a new search algorithm (RANKPEP) that ranks all possible peptides from an input protein using the PSSM coefficients. The predictive power of the method was evaluated by running RANKPEP on proteins known to bear MHCI K(b)- and D(b)-restricted T-cell epitopes. Analysis of the results indicates that > 80% of these epitopes are among the top 2% of scoring peptides. Prediction of peptide-MHC binding using a variety of MHCI-specific PSSMs is available on line at our RANKPEP web server (www.mifoundation.org/Tools/rankpep.html). In addition, the RANKPEP server also allows the user to enter additional profiles, making the server a powerful and versatile computational biology benchmark for the prediction of peptide-MHC binding.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1994

Characterization of peptide binding to the murine MHC class I H-2Kk molecule. Sequencing of the bound peptides and direct binding of synthetic peptides to isolated class I molecules.

Peptides that are bound by the murine class I MHC molecule H-2Kk have been isolated and sequenced. The initial step in the fractionation was affinity column isolation of the peptide-class I complex from either RDM-4 or x5563 tumor cell lines. Acid denaturation of the complex followed by HPLC fractionation of the peptides allowed us to sequence individual peptides, as well as pools of peptides. To date, a total of 10 sequences have been characterized, and all were 8 mers. The sequences were variable except for glutamic acid in the second position (P2) and isoleucine in the eighth (P8), which were highly conserved. To further study peptide binding to H-2Kk, a competitive binding assay consisting of the immobilized histocompatibility protein and a biotinylated self-peptide for signal generation was developed. A complete set of single-alanine variants for this one self-peptide was tested in the assay, demonstrating that substitution at P2 and P8 markedly decreased the affinity for the class I molecule; alanine at position 3 had an intermediate effect on binding. A comparison of the identified self-peptides for binding to H-2Kk showed that they differed in affinity by more than one order of magnitude. Influenza virus nucleoprotein peptide, SDY EGR LI, associated with the plate-bound class I molecule, and the resulting MHC-peptide complex could trigger TNF release by influenza-primed CTLs. This result demonstrated the functional activity of the plate-bound H-2Kk-peptide complex.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

A structure-based algorithm to predict potential binding peptides to MHC molecules with hydrophobic binding pockets.

Binding of peptides to MHC class I molecules is a prerequisite for their recognition by cytotoxic T cells. Consequently, identification of peptides that will bind to a given MHC molecule must constitute a central part of any algorithm for prediction of T-cell antigenic peptides based on the amino acid sequence of the protein. Binding motifs, defined by anchor positions only, have proven to be insufficient to ensure binding, suggesting that other positions along the peptide sequence also affect peptide-MHC interaction. The second phase of prediction schemes therefore take into account the effect of all positions along the peptide sequence, and are based on position-dependent-coefficients that are used in the calculation of a peptide score. These coefficients can be extracted from a large ensemble of binding sequences that were tested experimentally, or derived from structural considerations, as in the algorithm developed by us recently. This algorithm uses the coordinates of solved complexes to evaluate the interactions of peptide amino acids with MHC contact residues, and results in a peptide score that reflects its binding energy. Here we present our analysis for peptide binding to four MHC alleles (HLA-A2, HLA-A68, HLA-B27 and H-2Kb), and compare the predictions of the algorithm to experimental binding data. The algorithm performs successfully in predicting peptide binding to MHC molecules with hydrophobic binding pockets but not when MHC molecules with hydrophilic, charged pockets are considered. For MHC molecules with hydrophobic pockets it is demonstrated how the algorithm succeeds in distinguishing binding from non-binding peptides, and in high ranking of immunogenic peptides within all overlapping same-length peptides spanning their respective protein sequences. The latter property of the algorithm makes it a useful tool in the rational design of peptide vaccines aimed at T-cell immunity.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1995

HLA-DQ polymorphisms are highly selective for peptide binding interactions.

The impact of HLA-DQ allelic polymorphism on peptide binding interactions was investigated. MHC class II binding peptides from lambda repressor (lambda R), thyroid peroxidase (TPO), and a modified poly-alanine peptide (AKY) were used in two different binding assays, one with purified DQ molecules and another with cells that expressed DQ cell surface dimers. Class II heterodimers of different combinations of DQ alpha-chain and the DQ beta-chain independently influenced specific peptide interactions. Each of the peptides tested bound differentially to DQ alleles: TPO632-645 bound test to DQ2 molecules (DQA1*0501/DQB1*0201), lambda R12-24 bound best to DQ8 molecules (DQ3.2 or DQA1*0301/DQB1*0302), and AYK bound best to DQ1 (DQA*0102/DQB*0602) and DQ7 (DQ3.1 OR DQA1*0301/DQB1*0301). However, in each case in which either the DQ alpha- or DQ beta-chain was exchanged, major alterations or reversals of this pattern of interaction were observed. The interaction of lambda R with DQ8 was highly dependent on specific sequence polymorphisms at residue 57; an Ala-->Asp substitution on the DQ beta-chain at the polymorphic codon 57 prevented peptide binding. However, Ala 57 alone was not sufficient to permit binding in other DQ allelic contexts. These studies demonstrate the critical role of specific DQ polymorphisms in establishing the nature of bound Ag and thereby influencing the potential immune repertoire. Analysis of the ability of DQ molecules to bind and present antigenic peptides should aid in understanding their role in immunity and in development of HLA-DQ-associated autoimmune disease.

Alleles↗

PubMed1997

Alternative peptide binding motifs of Qa-2 class Ib molecules define rules for binding of self and nonself peptides.

Studies of naturally processed peptides eluted from membrane-bound and soluble isoforms of murine class Ib Qa-2 molecules determined several features of these ligands, such as the conserved nonameric length and the preferred usage of specific residues at four to six of nine peptide positions. The structural information derived from these studies proved insufficient to distinguish between two interpretations: 1) that Qa-2 are peptide receptors of higher stringency than ordinary class I molecules, and 2) that Qa-2 molecules, like classical class I Ags, bind diverse arrays of peptides. We have addressed this issue by a systematic analysis of peptide residues involved in the binding of membrane-bound Qa-2 molecule, MQ9b. The optimal binding of synthetic peptides in vitro occurs at neutral pH. Two dominant anchors are required for peptide binding to MQ9b: His at position 7 and a hydrophobic residue, Leu, Ile, or Phe, at position 9. In addition, one or two auxiliary anchors participate in binding. The identity and the position of the auxiliary anchors differ from peptide to peptide, suggesting that the binding motifs defined from pool sequencing are composed of many superimposed alternative motifs present in individual peptides. The number of anchors used by Qa-2 peptides is similar to that found in ligands of classical class I Ags. Consequently, the Qa-2 are predicted to bind large repertoires of self and nonself peptides. In support of this interpretation we demonstrate that MQ9b binds strongly 5 of 17 motif-positive, pathogen-derived synthetic peptides.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

HLA-A1 and HLA-A3 T cell epitopes derived from influenza virus proteins predicted from peptide binding motifs.

The potential value of peptide binding motifs of HLA class I molecules for the prediction of viral epitopes presented to T cells has been analyzed for two common HLA alleles. CTL generated against type A influenza virus recognize peptide epitopes derived from the nucleoprotein (NP) and basic polymerase 1 presented by HLA-A1, and epitopes derived from NP presented by HLA-A3. Distinct peptide binding motifs with characteristic anchor residues were previously identified for each of these class I molecules based on the sequences of endogenous peptides: for HLA-A1, position 3 = Asp or Glu and position 9 = Tyr; for HLA-A3, position 2 = Leu and position 9 = Lys or Tyr. Six peptides containing the HLA-A1 binding motif were identified within the sequences of the NP and basic polymerase 1 proteins, and one peptide containing the HLA-A3 motif was identified in the NP molecule. Three of the six HLA-A1 peptides and the one HLA-A3 NP peptide could bind to HLA-A1 or HLA-A3, respectively, in an in vitro peptide binding assay. Two of the HLA-A1-binding peptides could sensitize target cells for lysis by influenza virus-immune CTL populations restricted by HLA-A1 (NP 44-52 CTELKLSDY and PB1 591-599 VSDGGPNLY), and the one HLA-A3 NP peptide (NP 265-273 ILRGSVAHK) could sensitize target cells for lysis by HLA-A3-restricted influenza-immune CTL. Each peptide was also shown to be able to induce peptide-specific class I-restricted CTL in vitro, and the CTL generated against two of these peptides could specifically recognize virus-infected targets. Thus, these peptide binding motifs can be used to construct immunogenic synthetic epitopes which are capable of inducing antiviral T cell-mediated immune responses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗