HLA-B*3501-peptide interactions: role of anchor residues of peptides in their binding to HLA-B*3501 molecules.

Two HLA-B3501 binding self-peptides, LPFDFTPGY (37F) and LPGPKFLQY (28H), were isolated from HLA-B3501 molecules expressed by cultured human B lymphoid cells. Both sequences were consistent with previously reported motifs of HLA-B3501 binding peptides which carry proline at position 2 and tyrosine at position 9 as anchor residues. Direct binding of these peptides to HLA-B3501 molecules was quantitated by flow cytometry analysis of RMA-S cells. transfected with the HLA-B3501 gene (RMA-S-B3501). Both 37F and 28H peptides bound effectively to HLA-B3501 molecules. Substitution of amino acids at position 2 and/or 9 of HLA-B3501 binding peptides markedly reduced their binding to HLA-B3501 molecules. These results indicate that two anchor residues, proline at position 2 and tyrosine at position 9 are critical in binding of peptides to HLA-B3501 molecules. Insertion of up to four glycine residues at position 8 of the peptide 37F did not affect its binding affinity to HLA*3501 molecules. These results indicate that long peptides can effectively bind to HLA class I molecules provided that anchor residues are conserved.