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Molecular Immunology Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU United Kingdom; and
Oxford Centre for Molecular Sciences, New Chemistry Building, Oxford OX1 3QT United Kingdom
| Abstract |
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Residues 24–31 (GGKKKYKL) of the HIV-1 Gag protein p17, a region overlapping the nuclear localization site (1), have been mapped as an HLA B8–restricted epitope capable of eliciting a CTL response in HIV-1 seropositive individuals (2). Variations in the genetic sequence encoding these residues have been detected in viruses isolated from patients making a CTL response to this epitope (2, 3). Our present study focuses on four peptides which are related to the index peptide (GGKKKYKL) by single residue changes corresponding to naturally occurring variant epitope sequences, each of which has occured in more than one HLA B8 positive, HIV infected patient (Table 1, denoted as 3R, 5R, 7R, and 7Q). The index and variant peptides bind HLA B8 with similar affinities in vitro (4). A number of CTL clones and lines specific for this epitope have been generated from two HIV positive donors. Fig. 1 shows data from two clones and a line demonstrating the effects that these substitutions can have in terms of recognition and antagonism. The differences between the index and the four variant HLA B8–peptide complexes have been analysed in a series of x-ray crystallographic structure determinations at 2.3 Å resolution or better. Crystallographic statistics for each of the complexes are detailed in Table 1. In line with the binding motif deduced from several epitopes and pooled peptide sequences (5), the index peptide (residues P1–P8) is anchored in the HLA B8–binding groove by buried lysine residues at peptide positions P3 and P5 and by the COOHterminal (P8 or PC) leucine residue (see Fig. 2). Conversely, the sidechains of residues P4, P7 and P6, contribute to the surface exposed for TCR recognition. The APLs thus encompass changes at residues directly exposed to TCR recognition (P7) and at buried anchor residues (P3 and P5).
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| Materials and Methods |
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Production and Crystallization.
Production and crystallization of soluble forms of HLA B*0801–peptide complexes have been described (6). Briefly, residues 1–276 of the HLA B8 heavy chain and β2m were separately expressed in Escherichia coli and refolded in the presence of the appropriate peptide (Table 1). All the complexes crystallized in closely related unit cells (space group P212121 with one molecule per asymmetric unit; 6) facilitating a series of structure determinations. Note that for the index, 7R, 7Q, and 5R complex crystals, the peptide used for refolding was predominantly a 9 mer (with an additional P9 lysine residue). Subsequent electron density maps indicate that the crystals contained molecules bearing an 8-mer peptide, and sufficient numbers of 8-mer peptides were found, in analysis of original samples by mass spectrometry, to be consistent with selective crystallization of 8-mer complexes.
X-ray Data Collection.
For each complex, a diffraction data set was collected from a single, cryocooled crystal at the Synchrotron Radiation Source (SRS), Daresbury using a MAR-research imaging plate system (30 cm diam,
= 0.87 Å), or at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) (Grenoble, France) using a XRII/CCD detector (
= 0.76 Å) (7). ESRF data sets were corrected for spatial distortion and nonuniformity of response over the detector system using program FIT2D (8). All data sets were auto-indexed and integrated with the program DENZO (9).
Structure Determination and Analysis.
The crystal structure determination, by molecular replacement, of HLA B8 complexed with the index peptide is detailed elsewhere (Reid, S.W., K.J. Smith, A. McMichael, J. Bell, D.I. Stuart, and E.Y. Jones, manuscript in preparation). For each variant complex, rigid-body refinement was carried out in the program X-PLOR (10) using the B8–index complex with peptide coordinates removed as an initial model. Difference Fourier maps calculated on the basis of these phases (using programs in the CCP4 suite (11)) showed unambiguous electron density for the entire peptide backbone and all peptide side chains with the exception of the P7 lysines in the 3R and 5R variants. Electron density maps were displayed and model coordinates fitted on an Evans and Sutherland (Salt Lake City, UT) ESV workstation using the interactive computer graphics program FRODO (12). Further rounds of refinement by conjugate gradient minimization, restrained temperature factor, and simulated annealing using standard X-PLOR protocols (10), interspersed with rebuilding to 2|Fo|-|Fc|
calc maps, resulted in the current models for the complexes. A bulk solvent correction, as implemented in version 3.1 of X-PLOR (10), allowed all measured data to 2.3 Å resolution, or better, to be incorporated into the refinement and map calculations. In the final stages of refinement, ordered water molecules were added to the complexes. The final electron density maps are of high quality and omit maps confirm all the conformational changes discussed in the text including the position of the P7 lysines that were initially unclear. The mobility of these sidechains is reflected in the refined B-factors.
| Results |
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1 and
2 helices which flank the binding groove. In both index and variant complexes, the P3 anchor residue is buried in the D pocket which is situated at the
2 side of the binding groove. In HLA B8, as in other HLA class I alleles (13–18), one side of the D pocket is formed by residues Tyr-159, Leu-160, and Tyr-99 while the other side opens into the central portion of the binding groove (Reid, S.W., K.J. Smith, A. McMichael, J. Bell, D.I. Stuart, and E.Y. Jones, manuscript in preparation). This open pocket allows the P3 lysine residue of the index peptide to hydrogen bond to residue Asp-156. The shifts in HLA and peptide mainchain positions between index and variant are triggered by the steric requirements of accommodating the larger P3 arginine residue in place of the index lysine while conserving this hydrogen bond (Figs. 2 and 3). The orientations and mobilities (as judged by crystallographic B-factors) of exposed peptide and HLA sidechains are similar in the two complexes. The major differences in the surface exposed to TCR recognition are therefore the mainchain shifts in the peptide (0.4, 0.6, 1.1, and 0.8 Å for residues P1–P4 C
positions) and flanking helices (0.4–0.5 Å for residues 61–66, 0.5 Å for residues 159, 162, and 163 C
positions). These small changes produce the dramatic alterations in recognition by CTLs.
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-Cβ bond of some 26° (Fig. 2). This is simply accomplished by a distortion of the P4–P5 peptide mainchain, and the resultant perturbations at the surface of the complex are limited primarily to an altered orientation of the exposed P4 sidechain (Fig. 2).
P7 Variant.
The 7R and 7Q variants represent altered peptide ligands (APLs) with changes at a residue which is potentially able to interact directly with a TCR. This leads to abolished functional recognition by clones 18, 20, and the donor 84 line. The TCRs from line 84 specifically interact with these variants, both of which act as potent antagonists (Fig. 1 d ). In the index complex, the lysine sidechain of the P7 residue is fully exposed to solvent and relatively mobile, the sidechain amide interacts indirectly with other protein groups via a water mediated, hydrogen bond network to the sidechains of HLA residues glutamic acid 76 and asparagine 80 on the
1 helix (Fig. 2 ). In contrast, for both 7R and 7Q variants, the P7 sidechain is tethered by two direct hydrogen bonds to one or both of these
1 sidechains: the 7R arginine via two of its guanadinium NH groups to glutamic acid 76, and the 7Q glutamine to both glutamic acid 76 and asparagine 80. Thus, in addition to direct changes in charge and shape at the P7 sidechain position, the mobility of sidechains in this portion of the surface is altered between index and variant complexes.
| Discussion |
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The changes seen are consistent with the hypothesis that altered peptide ligands produce antagonism by very small changes, mainly in sidechains which modulate the interaction with the TCR, possibly leading to an increased offrate. Conversely, such subtle changes in the surface of the MHC class I–peptide complex appear unlikely to change the geometry of the interaction with the TCR. Thus, these data favor the altered avidity model for antagonism (for review see reference 19). Indeed, increased TCR off-rates for antagonist peptide–MHC class II complexes have recently been reported (20). The more extensive conformational changes, including MHC mainchain movements seen with the 3R variant, tend to abolish recognition. This result indicates a direct role for regions of the HLA molecule flanking the peptide in TCR recognition. The combination of our findings with those of Lyons et al. (20) clearly favors the models for antagonism whereby the T cell signaling process could amplify affinity differences between agonist and antagonist MHC–peptide complexes (21, 22)
| Acknowledgments |
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Submitted: 30 May 1996
Revised: 23 September 1996
1Abbreviations used in this paper: APL, altered peptide ligand; SL, specific lysis.
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