Abstract

We examined interactions in a soluble tapasin (TPN)/HLA-B^*0801 complex to gain mechanistic insights into the functions of TPN. Results show that TPN acts as a chaperone by increasing the ratio of active-to-inactive peptide-deficient HLA-B^*0801 molecules in solution. TPN causes peptides to associate and dissociate faster owing to its effect on widening the binding groove of HLA-B^*0801 molecules. Our data indicate that a TPN-assisted mechanism of peptide selection relies on disruption of conserved hydrogen bonds at the C-terminal end of the groove. Peptide sequence-dependent interactions along the entire length of the groove also play a role in this mechanism. We suggest that TPN influences presentation of antigenic peptides according to a mechanistically complicated process in which bound candidate peptides that are unable to conformationally disengage TPN from class I molecules are excluded from the repertoire. Overall, these studies unify our understanding of the functions of TPN.