Physical association of the K3 protein of gamma-2 herpesvirus 68 with major histocompatibility complex class I molecules with impaired peptide and β2-microglobulin assembly

Lawrence Y.L. Yu, Michael R. Harris, Lonnie Lybarger, Lisa A. Kimpler, Nancy B. Myers, Herbert W. Virgin IV, Ted H. Hansen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

To persist in the presence of an active immune system, viruses encode proteins that decrease expression of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules by using a variety of mechanisms. For example, murine gamma-2 herpesvirus 68 expresses the K3 protein, which causes the rapid turnover of nascent class I molecules. In this report we show that certain mouse class I alleles are more susceptible than others to K3-mediated down regulation. Prior to their rapid degradation, class I molecules in K3-expressing cells exhibit impaired assembly with β2-microglobulin. Furthermore, K3 is detected predominantly in association with class I molecules lacking assembly with high-affinity peptides, including class I molecules associated with the peptide loading complex TAP/tapasin/calreticulin. The detection of K3 with class I assembly intermediates raises the possibility that molecular chaperones involved in class I assembly are involved in K3-mediated class I regulation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2796-2803
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of virology
Volume76
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Insect Science
  • Virology

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