The assembly of functional beta(2)-microglobulin-free MHC class I molecules that interact with peptides and CD8(+) T lymphocytes. Journal   International immunology. Citation   Int Immunol. 14(7):775-82 Publication date   2002 Jul Authors   Schell TD Mylin LM Tevethia SS Joyce S Investigators   Todd Schell Satvir S. Tevethia Grant agencies   National Cancer Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Grants   NCI CA25000 NHLBI HL54977 MeSH headings   CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes Histocompatibility Antigens Class I beta 2-Microglobulin MeSH qualifiers   immunology deficiency Abstract   Functional MHC class I molecules are expressed on the cell surface in the absence of beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m) light chain that can interact with CD8(+) T lymphocytes. Whether their assembly requires peptide binding and whether their recognition by CD8(+) T lymphocytes involves the presentation of peptide epitopes remains unknown. We show that beta(2)m-free H-2D(b) assembles with short peptides that are approximately 9 amino acid residues in length, akin to ligands associated with completely assembled beta(2)m(+) H-2D(b). Remarkably, a subset of the peptides associated with the beta(2)m-free H-2D(b) has an altered anchor motif. However, they also include peptides that contain a beta(2)m(+)H-2D(b) binding anchor motif. Further, the H-2K(b)- and H-2D(b)-restricted peptide epitopes derived from SV-40 T antigen also assemble with H-2(b) class I in beta(2)m-deficient cells and are recognized by epitope-specific CD8(+) T lymphocytes. Taken together our data reveal that functional MHC class I molecules assemble in the absence of beta(2)m with peptides and form CD8(+) T lymphocyte epitopes. Medline ID   22090610