Abstract
Protein phosphorylation generates a source of phosphopeptides that are presented by major histocompatibility complex class I molecules and recognized by T cells. As deregulated phosphorylation is a hallmark of malignant transformation, the differential display of phosphopeptides on cancer cells provides an immunological signature of 'transformed self'. Here we demonstrate that phosphorylation can considerably increase peptide binding affinity for HLA-A2. To understand this, we solved crystal structures of four phosphopeptide-HLA-A2 complexes. These identified a novel peptide-binding motif centered on a solvent-exposed phosphate anchor. Our findings indicate that deregulated phosphorylation can create neoantigens by promoting binding to major histocompatibility complex molecules or by affecting the antigenic identity of presented epitopes. These results highlight the potential of phosphopeptides as novel targets for cancer immunotherapy.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Antigen Presentation*
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Antigens, Neoplasm / chemistry
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Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology*
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Antigens, Neoplasm / metabolism
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Autoantigens / chemistry
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Autoantigens / immunology*
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Autoantigens / metabolism
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Crystallography, X-Ray
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HLA-A Antigens / chemistry
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HLA-A Antigens / immunology*
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HLA-A2 Antigen
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Humans
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Models, Molecular
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Phosphopeptides / chemistry
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Phosphopeptides / immunology*
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Phosphopeptides / metabolism
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Phosphorylation
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Protein Binding
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Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
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Protein Processing, Post-Translational / immunology*
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Protein Structure, Secondary
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Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
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Recombinant Proteins / immunology
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T-Lymphocytes / immunology
Substances
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Antigens, Neoplasm
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Autoantigens
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HLA-A Antigens
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HLA-A*02:01 antigen
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HLA-A2 Antigen
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Phosphopeptides
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Recombinant Proteins
Associated data
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PDB/2BHB
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PDB/3BGM
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PDB/3BH8
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PDB/3BH9