A complex between the MHC class I homologue encoded by human cytomegalovirus and β2 microglobulin (original) (raw)
- Letter
- Published: 25 October 1990
Nature volume 347, pages 770–772 (1990)Cite this article
- 331 Accesses
- 232 Citations
- 6 Altmetric
- Metrics details
Abstract
HUMAN cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous pathogen that persists in the host and can cause severe disease in the immuno-compromised individual or in the fetus. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the virus genome has revealed the presence of an open reading frame whose predicted translation product has homology with the heavy chain of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule of higher eukaryotes1, and the observed sequence homology was given additional significance by the independent observation2 that HCMV virions can bind β2 microglobulin (β2m), the light chain of the MHC class I molecule. We expressed both the HCMV class I homologue and the human β2m gene in recombinant vaccinia viruses. We show that the coexpressed gene products associate, that the transport of β2m to the cell surface is dependent on coexpression of the class I homologue and that the viral gene product is therefore functionally related to its cellular counterpart. We observe also that, in HCMV-infected cells, no synthesis of mature cellular class I molecules occurs, while messenger RNA levels remain unaltered, and we speculate that one function of the viral homologue may be to sequester β2m, thus preventing the maturation of cellular class I molecules and rendering the infected cell unrecognizable by cytotoxic T cells.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Additional access options:
Similar content being viewed by others
References
- Beck, S. & Barrell, B. G. Nature 331, 269–272 (1988).
Article ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar - McKeating, J. A., Griffiths, P. D. & Grundy, J. E. J. gen. Virol. 68, 785–792 (1987).
Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar - Chee, M. S. et al. Curr. Top. Microbiol. Immunol. 154, 125–169 (1990).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar - Shimizu Y. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 227–231 (1988).
Article ADS CAS Google Scholar - Bjorkman, P. J. et al. Nature 329, 506–512 (1987).
Article ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar - Grundy, J. E., McKeating, J. A. & Griffiths, P. D. J. gen. Virol. 68, 777–784 (1987).
Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar - Grundy, J. E., McKeating, J. A., Ward, P. J., Sanderson, A. R. & Griffiths, P. D. J. gen. Virol. 68, 793–803 (1987).
Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar - Stannard, L. M. J. gen. Virol. 70, 2179–2184 (1989).
Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar - Townsend, A. R. M., Gotch, F. M. & Davey, J. Cell 42, 457–467 (1985).
Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar - Townsend, A. et al. Nature 340, 443–448 (1989).
Article ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar - Burgert, H-G. & Kvist, S. Cell 41, 987–997 (1985).
Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar - Del Val, M., Münch, K., Reddehase, M. J. & Koszinowski, U. H. Cell 58, 305–315 (1989).
Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar - Borysiewicz, L. K. et al. J. exp. Med. 168, 919–932 (1988).
Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar - Rosel, J. & Moss, B. J. Virol. 56, 830–838 (1985).
CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar - Mackett, M., Smith, G. L. & Moss, B. J. Virol. 49, 857–864 (1984).
CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar - Cranage, M. P. et al. EMBO J. 5, 3057–3063 (1986).
Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar - Brodsky, F. M., Bodmer, W. F. & Parham, P. Eur. J. Immun. 9, 536–545 (1979).
Article CAS Google Scholar - Barnstable, C. J. et al. Cell 14, 9–20 (1978).
Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar - Holmes, N., Ennis, P., Wan, A. M., Denney, D. W. & Parham, P. J. Immun. 139, 936–941 (1987).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Author information
Author notes
- Geoffrey Smith
Present address: Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, 0X13RE, UK - Stephan Beck
Present address: ICRF, Lincolns Inn Fields, London, WC2N 3PX, UK
Authors and Affiliations
- Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB21QP, UK
Helena Browne, Geoffrey Smith & Tony Minson - MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QH, UK
Stephan Beck
Authors
- Helena Browne
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - Geoffrey Smith
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - Stephan Beck
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - Tony Minson
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Browne, H., Smith, G., Beck, S. et al. A complex between the MHC class I homologue encoded by human cytomegalovirus and β2 microglobulin.Nature 347, 770–772 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/347770a0
- Received: 12 March 1990
- Accepted: 29 August 1990
- Issue Date: 25 October 1990
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/347770a0