skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Crystallization and preliminary X-ray structural studies of a Melan-A pMHC–TCR complex

Journal Article · · Acta Crystallographica. Section F
 [1]; ;  [2]; ;  [1];  [3]; ; ; ;  [4];  [1];  [5]
  1. Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU (United Kingdom)
  2. STFC Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 4AD (United Kingdom)
  3. Medical Biochemistry and Immunology, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff CF14 4XN,Wales (United Kingdom)
  4. Medigene, 57c Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxdfordshire OX14 4RX (United Kingdom)
  5. Center for Molecular Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 13 Beiyitiao, Zhongguancun, Beijing 100080 (China)

A preliminary X-ray crystal structural study of a soluble cognate T-cell receptor (TCR) in complex with a pMHC presenting the Melan-A peptide (ELAGIGILTV) is reported. The TCR and pMHC were refolded, purified and mixed together to form complexes, which were crystallized using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. Single TCR–pMHC complex crystals were cryocooled and used for data collection. Melanocytes are specialized pigmented cells that are found in all healthy skin tissue. In certain individuals, diseased melanocytes can form malignant tumours, melanomas, which cause the majority of skin-cancer-related deaths. The melanoma-associated antigenic peptides are presented on cell surfaces via the class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Among the melanoma-associated antigens, the melanoma self-antigen A/melanoma antigen recognized by T cells (Melan-A/MART-1) has attracted attention because of its wide expression in primary and metastatic melanomas. Here, a preliminary X-ray crystal structural study of a soluble cognate T-cell receptor (TCR) in complex with a pMHC presenting the Melan-A peptide (ELAGIGILTV) is reported. The TCR and pMHC were refolded, purified and mixed together to form complexes, which were crystallized using the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. Single TCR–pMHC complex crystals were cryocooled and used for data collection. Diffraction data showed that these crystals belonged to space group P4{sub 1}/P4{sub 3}, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 120.4, c = 81.6 Å. A complete data set was collected to 3.1 Å and the structure is currently being analysed.

OSTI ID:
22360551
Journal Information:
Acta Crystallographica. Section F, Vol. 63, Issue Pt 9; Other Information: PMCID: PMC2376329; PMID: 17768347; PUBLISHER-ID: pu5196; OAI: oai:pubmedcentral.nih.gov:2376329; Copyright (c) International Union of Crystallography 2007; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1744-3091
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English