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Class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) heterodimer, composed of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2 heavy chain and human beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m), was produced by denaturation and gel filtration of the recombinant water-soluble HLA-A2/beta(2)m/peptide ternary complex in 8 M urea Tris-HCl buffer, followed by refolding of the separated chains without peptide. Peptide affinity and kinetics of the ternary complex formation and dissociation were investigated in real time by monitoring the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from intrinsic HLA-A2 heavy-chain tryptophans to a dansyl fluorophore conjugated to the bound peptide. Peptide binding to the heterodimer was a second order process with rate constants linearly dependent upon temperature in Arrhenius coordinates over 0-20 degrees C. The binding rate constant of pRT6C-dansyl [ILKEPC(dansyl)HGV] at 37 degrees C evaluated by extrapolation of the Arrhenius plot was (2.0 +/- 0.5) x 10(6) M(-1) s(-1). Association of the heavy chain with beta(2)m was a first order process, apparently controlled by a conformational transition in the heavy chain. One of these conformations bound to beta(2)m to form the heavy chain/beta(2)m heterodimer whereas the second conformer oligomerized. Peptide dissociation from the ternary complex was a first-order reaction over the temperature range 20-37 degrees C, suggesting that the ternary complex also exists in two conformations. Taken together, the present data suggest that association of beta(2)m changes the HLA-A2 heavy-chain conformation thereby promoting peptide binding. Peptide dissociation from the ternary complex induces dissociation of the heavy-chain/beta(2)m heterodimer thereby causing oligomerization of the heavy chain. The lability of the HLA-A2/beta(2)m heterodimer and the strong tendency of the "free" heavy chain to oligomerize may provide an efficient mechanism for control of antigen presentation under physiological conditions by reducing the direct loading of HLA with exogenous peptide at the cell surface.

The mechanism of assembly/dissociation of a recombinant water-soluble class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) H-2Kb molecule was studied by a real-time fluorescence resonance energy transfer method. Like the H-2Kd ternary complex [Gakamsky et al. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 14841-14848], the interactions among the heavy chain, beta2-microglobulin (beta2m), and antigenic peptides were found to be controlled by an allosteric mechanism. Association of the heavy chain with beta2m increased peptide binding rate constants by more than 2 orders of magnitude and enhanced affinity of the heavy-chain molecule for peptides. Interaction of peptides with the heavy-chain binding site, in turn, increased markedly the affinity of the heavy chain for beta2m. Binding of peptide variants of the ovalbumin sequence (257-264) to the heavy chain/beta2m heterodimer was found to be a biphasic reaction. The fast phase was a second-order process with nearly the same rate constants as those of binding of peptides derived from the influenza virus nucleoprotein 147-155 to the H-2Kd heavy chain/beta2m heterodimer [(3.0 +/- 1.0) x 10(-6) M-1 s-1 at 37 degrees C]. The slow phase was a result of both the ternary complex assembly from the "free" heavy chain, beta2m, and peptide as well as an intramolecular conformational transition within the heavy chain/beta2m heterodimer to a peptide binding conformation. Biexponential kinetics of peptide or beta2m dissociation from the ternary complex were observed. They suggest that it can exist in two conformations. The rate constants of beta2m dissociation from the H-2Kb ternary complex were, in the limits of experimental accuracy, independent of the structure of the bound peptide, though their affinities differed by an order of magnitude. Dissociation of peptides from the Kb heavy chain was always faster than from the ternary complexes, yet the heavy chain/peptide complexes were considerably more stable compared with their Kd/nucleoprotein peptide counterparts.

The primary structure of papain-solubilized human histocompatibility antigen HLA-B40 (-Bw60) has been determined. Its comparison with that of the cross-reactive HLA-B7 antigen allows for the first time a direct sequence comparison between two HLA-B locus products and an outline of the location of their alloantigenic sites. Overall sequence homology between HLA-B40 and HLA-B7 is 93%. Of 19 detected differences, 18 are located in the two amino-terminal domains (residues 1-182). Half of them are clustered in two short segments spanning residues 63-74 and 147-156, respectively, which suggests that they may encompass major sites of their alloantigenic determinants. The first of these segments is highly polymorphic in HLA and H-2 molecules. It is proposed that it may belong to a hypervariable region of class I histocompatibility antigens. The remaining substitutions are scattered through the N-terminal portions of the two external domains. Thus, in addition to the above-mentioned segments, other positions may contribute significantly to the antigenic polymorphism of these molecules.

The complete amino acid sequence of papain-solubilized HLA-B27, an antigen that presents a very strong association to the development of ankylosing spondylitis, has been determined. The overall sequence homology with the cross-reactive allelic products HLA-B7 and HLA-B40 (Bw60) is 93% and 92%, respectively. Half of the differences between HLA-B27 and -B7 are located in segments 63-83 and 113-116. Most of the known HLA class I antigens are different in these segments, and it is suggested that the corresponding residues may be involved in the alloantigenic determinants of HLA-B27. A free cysteine residue is present at position 67, and it is at least partially exposed to solvent. In addition, other differences are found in various areas of the two N-terminal domains. The comparison with available HLA class I sequences allows an evaluation of their contribution to the antigenic polymorphism of these molecules. The relevance of these data is discussed in connection with the mapping of functional sites of HLA class I antigens and with the association between HLA-B27 and ankylosing spondylitis.

Comparative primary structural analyses have begun to elucidate polymorphic residues and segments of the class I antigens of the major histocompatibility complex, at least some of which presumably contribute to determinants important in immune recognition events. HLA-A2 structural variants have been described which are serologically indistinguishable from other HLA-A2 antigens, yet which can be recognized neither by HLA-A2 specific alloimmune nor by HLA-A2 restricted, virus immune cytotoxic T lymphocytes. This study utilizes double-label tryptic peptide comparisons in combination with both conventional and microsequence analyses to investigate the structure of two such variants, M7 and DR1. We find that these variants are identical with each other and differ from the predominant HLA-A2 heavy chain species by a glutamine to arginine substitution at residue 43, by an unidentified substitution in the tryptic peptide spanning residues 147-157, and by an as yet poorly defined alteration in glycosylation. Structural information from these and other variants should be useful in precisely defining functionally important determinants on the molecule.

Human urinary beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) and pa-pain-solubilized human histocompatibility antigen HLA-B7 were iodinated with iodogen and the sites of iodination determined. In the case of free urinary beta 2m, four of the six tyrosines were modified to some degree. Two of these were heavily iodinated (tyrosine-63 and -67) while two were lightly iodinated (tyrosine-10 and -26). In the case of beta 2m iodinated in the intact HLA-B7 complex, only one of these tyrosines was modified substantially (tyrosine-67). beta 2m iodinated at either of the two major sites exchanged into the HLA-B7 complex, whereas beta 2m iodinated at either of the two minor sites did not exchange at all. The relationship of these findings to the quaternary structure of HLA is discussed.

As a part of the overall strategy for determining the complete covalent structure of the papain-solubilized portion of the heavy chain of the human histocompatibility antigen HLA-B7, the protein was dissected into various fragments by a combination of partial acid hydrolysis and cyanogen bromide cleavage. After purification by chromatographic procedures, these fragments have been used as a source for tryptic and chymotryptic peptides. Thirty-three major tryptic and twenty-two major chymotryptic peptides were purified in nanomole amounts and their amino acid compositions determined. These peptides account for the whole extent of the polypeptide chain with the exception of the amino-terminal CNBr pentapeptide. They provide the basis for the formal alignment of the acid cleavage and cyanogen bromide fragments of the molecule as well as the source material for the elucidation of the primary structure of the HLA-B7 heavy chain.

The kinetics of dissociation of iodinated beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) from the papain-solubilized class I histocompatibility antigen HLA-B7 have been investigated. In the presence of unlabeled beta 2m, most of the HLA dissociates according to a single rate constant, whereas in the absence of unlabeled beta 2m, the system approaches an equilibrium dependent upon the initial HLA concentration. When iodinated beta 2m is incubated with unlabeled HLA-B7, the rate of incorporation of beta 2m into the complex is much less dependent on the concentration than is expected for a simple association/dissociation system; instead, the system behaves as if the "activity" (in a thermodynamic sense) of the HLA heavy-chain intermediate cannot surpass a critical concentration. The dissociation rate for each class I specificity is a function of temperature, ionic strength, pH, and the status of the heavy chain (papain solubilized vs. detergent solubilized). High temperature, high ionic strength, and extremes of pH promote dissociation. The intact molecule dissociates about 10 times more slowly than the papain-solubilized molecule. In contrast, the rate of dissociation of all papain-solubilized class I antigens tested falls within the range of about a factor of 2. The presence of the carbohydrate has no effect on the rate of dissociation. The possibility that HLA class I antigen dissociation may occur in vivo within acidic internal vesicles is discussed.

The complete amino acid sequence of the papain-solubilized heavy chain of a human histocompatibility antigen (HLA-B7) has been elucidated. It consists of a polypeptide of 271 residues (31 333 daltons). A single glycan moiety is attached to an asparagine residue at position 86 by an N-glycosidic bond. Two intrachain disulfide bonds, arranged linearly, involve half-cystine residues at positions 101 and 164 and at positions 203 and 259. They form two loops of 62 and 55 residues, respectively, separated by 38 residues. Computer analysis of the sequence suggests the existence of internal homology between the amino-terminal portion (residues 1--90) and the region of the first disulfide loop (residues 91--180). There is a significant homology between the second disulfide loop region of the chain (residues 182-271) and immunoglobulin (Ig) constant domains and beta 2-microglobulin [Orr, H. T., Lancet, D., Robb, R. J., López de Castro, J. A., & Strominger, J. L. (1979A) Nature (London) (in press)]. However, no such homology to Ig is apparent in the amino-terminal or in the first disulfide loop regions.

The major histocompatibility complex (HLA in humans) contains a relatively large set of gene loci in the HLA-D/DR region responsible for regulation of the immune response. The structural dissection of the protein products of these loci is a necessary accompaniment to understanding of this response. In this study, two subsets of HLA-DR-like molecules have been separated by using monoclonal antibodies, and their component alpha and beta chains have been subjected to amino acid terminal sequencing. The results from this sequencing experiment show three differences in the first 14 residues of the beta chains and no differences in the first 15 residues of the alpha chains. These data along with previous sequencing of the DC-1 antigen [Bono, M. R., & Strominger, J. L. (1982) Nature (London) 299, 836-838] demonstrate that three distinct subsets of HLA-DR-like antigens are expressed by a homozygous human lymphoblastoid cell line.

This paper reports the sequence of the active site peptide of penicillin-binding protein 1b from Escherichia coli. Purified penicillin-binding protein 1b was labeled with [14C]penicillin G, digested with trypsin, and partially purified by gel filtration. Upon further purification by high-pressure liquid chromatography, two radioactive peaks were observed, and the major peak, representing over 75% of the applied radioactivity, was submitted to amino acid analysis and sequencing. The sequence Ser-Ile-Gly-Ser-Leu-Ala-Lys was obtained. The active site nucleophile was identified by digesting the purified peptide with aminopeptidase M and separating the radioactive products on high-pressure liquid chromatography. Amino acid analysis confirmed that the serine residue in the middle of the sequence was covalently bonded to the [14C]penicilloyl moiety. A comparison of this sequence to active site sequences of other penicillin-binding proteins and beta-lactamases is presented.