Brunnberga et al. used fluorescently engineered, enhanced-affinity, soluble TCRs and antibody–nanobody complexes to quantitatively detect and demonstrate the localization of pMHC-I complexes and different MHC-I allomorphs. Deletion of some components of the PLC editing modules (TSN, CRT, or ERp57) reduced the amount of MHC-I surface molecules, changed the MHC-I surface composition, and favored an increased presentation of suboptimally loaded peptides. Deficiencies in the editing module led to elevated presentation of abundant, high-affinity peptides, suggesting that the PLC restricts the presentation of highly expressed peptides.

Contributed by Shishir Pant

ABSTRACT: Antigen presentation via major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules is essential for surveillance by the adaptive immune system. Central to this process is the peptide-loading complex (PLC), which translocates peptides from the cytosol to the endoplasmic reticulum and catalyzes peptide loading and proofreading of peptide-MHC-I (pMHC-I) complexes. Despite its importance, the impact of individual PLC components on the presented pMHC-I complexes is still insufficiently understood. Here, we used stoichiometrically defined antibody-nanobody complexes and engineered soluble T cell receptors (sTCRs) to quantify different MHC-I allomorphs and defined pMHC-I complexes, respectively. Thereby, we uncovered distinct effects of individual PLC components on the pMHC-I surface pool. Knockouts of components of the PLC editing modules, namely tapasin, ERp57, or calreticulin, changed the MHC-I surface composition to a reduced proportion of HLA-A*02:01 presentation compensated by a higher ratio of HLA-B*40:01 molecules. Intriguingly, these knockouts not only increased the presentation of suboptimally loaded HLA-A*02:01 complexes but also elevated the presentation of high-affinity peptides overexpressed in the cytosol. Our findings suggest that the components of the PLC editing module serve a dual role, acting not only as peptide proofreaders but also as limiters for abundant peptides. This dual function ensures the presentation of a broad spectrum of antigenic peptides.

Author Info: (1) Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany. (2) Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Fran

Author Info: (1) Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany. (2) Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany. (3) Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany. (4) Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany. (5) Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria. (6) Immunocore Ltd., Abingdon OX14 4RY, United Kingdom. (7) Immunocore Ltd., Abingdon OX14 4RY, United Kingdom. (8) Institute of Immunology, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria. (9) Institute of Biochemistry, Biocenter, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main 60438, Germany.