TCR Scanning of Peptide/MHC through Complementary Matching of Receptor and Ligand Molecular Flexibility
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-15-2014
Source Publication
The Journal of Immunology
Source ISSN
0022-1767
Abstract
Although conformational changes in TCRs and peptide Ags presented by MHC protein (pMHC) molecules often occur upon binding, their relationship to intrinsic flexibility and role in ligand selectivity are poorly understood. In this study, we used nuclear magnetic resonance to study TCR–pMHC binding, examining recognition of the QL9/H-2Ld complex by the 2C TCR. Although the majority of the CDR loops of the 2C TCR rigidify upon binding, the CDR3β loop remains mobile within the TCR–pMHC interface. Remarkably, the region of the QL9 peptide that interfaces with CDR3β is also mobile in the free pMHC and in the TCR–pMHC complex. Determination of conformational exchange kinetics revealed that the motions of CDR3β and QL9 are closely matched. The matching of conformational exchange in the free proteins and its persistence in the complex enhances the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of the TCR–pMHC complex and provides a mechanism for facile binding. We thus propose that matching of structural fluctuations is a component of how TCRs scan among potential ligands for those that can bind with sufficient stability to enable T cell signaling.
Recommended Citation
Hawse, William F.; De, Soumya; Greenwood, Alexander I.; Nicholson, Linda K.; Zajicek, Jaroslav; Kovrigin, Evgeni L.; Kranz, David M.; Garcia, K. Chrisopher; and Baker, Brian M., "TCR Scanning of Peptide/MHC through Complementary Matching of Receptor and Ligand Molecular Flexibility" (2014). Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications. 362.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/chem_fac/362
Comments
The Journal of Immunology, Vol. 192, No. 6 (March 2014): 2885-2891. DOI.