the function of the major histocompatibility complex is to recognize foreign molecules in vertebrates.
the function of the major histocompatibility complex is to recognize foreign molecules in vertebrates.
what is the function of the major histocompatibility complex?
recognize foreign molecules in vertebrates
the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) is a set of genes that code for cell surface proteins essential for the acquired immune system to recognize foreign molecules in vertebrates, which in turn determines histocompatibility. the main function of mhc molecules is to bind to antigens derived from pathogens and display them on the cell surface for recognition by the appropriate t-cells. mhc molecules mediate interactions of leukocytes, also called white blood cells (wbcs), which are immune cells, with other leukocytes or with body cells. the mhc determines compatibility of donors for organ transplant, as well as one's susceptibility to an autoimmune disease via crossreacting immunization. the human mhc is also called the hla (human leukocyte antigen) complex (often just the hla). the mhc in mice is called the h-2 complex or h-2.
major histocompatibility complex
in 1993, fremont received his ph.d. in chemistry working in ian wilson’s laboratory at the scripps research institute while a student at the university of california, san diego. here, he determined the first x-ray crystal structures of a major histocompatibility complex molecule bound to specific peptides. these structures of the h-2kb molecule, published in "science" in 1992, played a pivotal role in defining the molecular details of host discrimination of “self” versus “non-self”, and had been cited 847 times according to google scholar. his work helped explain how a single major histocompatibility complex class i molecule is able to bind a vast array of different antigen peptide sequences and established that major histocompatibility complex class i molecules bind primarily to the backbone atoms of antigen peptides in a sequence-independent manner. fremont continued his work in structural immunology as a post-doctoral fellow with wayne hendrickson at columbia university and john kappler at the national jewish center. there he solved a number of major histocompatibility complex structures, most notably that of murine h2-m, a chaperone involved in major histocompatibility complex class i loading.
daved h. fremont