Amino Acid Residues Essential for Biological Activity of a Peptide Derived From a Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Antigen

In this article, Anfinsen, in collaboration with a number of scientists at laboratories across the United States, reported his observations on the self interaction of peptides from the alpha-1 domain of the major histocampatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen. The authors noted that this self interaction, in the absence of cells and form aggregates that precipitate upon centrifugation, suggested that the biological effects in cells, which result from inhibition of receptor and transporter internalization, may be due to the binding of the peptide to the homologous sequences in the alpha-1 domain of the MHC class I molecule. The researchers suggested that MHC class I molecules, which function in the immune system to transport antigenic peptides to the cell surface, might also play a role in receptor recycling.