Discovery and Analysis of Invertebrate IgVJ-C2 Structure from Amphioxus Provides Insight into the Evolution of the Ig Superfamily.

The emergence of adaptive immunity in jawed vertebrates depended on the appearance of variable immune receptors, BCRs and TCRs, which exhibit variable-J-constant (VJ-C)-type Ig superfamily folds. Hitherto, however, the structures of IgV-J-IgC-type molecules had never been characterized in invertebrates, leaving the origin of BCR/TCR-type molecules unknown. Using x-ray crystallography, the structure of a VJ-C2 molecule, named AmpIgVJ-C2, was determined in amphioxus (Branchiostoma floridae). The first domain shows typical V folding, including the hydrophobic core, CDR analogs, and eight conserved residues. The second domain is a C2-type Ig superfamily domain, as defined by its short length and the absence of ß-strand D- and C1-typical motifs. AmpIgVJ-C2 molecules form homodimers, using "three-layer packing dimerization," as described for TCRs and BCRs. The AmpIgVJ-C2 V domain harbors a diglycine motif in ß-strand G and forms a ß-bulge structure participating in V-V intermolecular interaction. By immunohistochemistry, AmpIgVJ-C2 molecules were primarily found in mucosal tissues, whereas PCR and sequence analysis indicated considerable genetic variation at the single-gene level; these findings would be consistent with an immune function and a basic ability to adapt to binding different immune targets. Our results show a BCR/TCR-ancestral like molecule in amphioxus and help us to understand the evolution of the adaptive immune system.

Structural Illumination of Equine MHC Class I Molecules Highlights Unconventional Epitope Presentation Manner That Is Evolved in Equine Leukocyte Antigen Alleles.

MHC class I (MHC I)-restricted virus-specific CTLs are implicated as critical components in the control of this naturally occurring lentivirus and in the protective immune response to the successfully applied attenuated equine infectious anemia virus vaccine in the horse. Nevertheless, the structural basis for how the equine MHC I presents epitope peptides remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the binding of several equine infectious anemia virus-derived epitope peptides by the ability to refold recombinant molecules and by thermal stability, and then by determining the x-ray structure of five peptide-MHC I complexes: equine MHC class I allele (Eqca)-N*00602/Env-RW12, Eqca-N*00602/Gag-GW12, Eqca-N*00602/Rev-QW11, Eqca-N*00602/Gag-CF9, and Eqca-N*00601/Gag-GW12. Although Eqca-N*00601 and Eqca-N*00602 differ by a single amino acid, Eqca-N*00601 exhibited a drastically different peptide presentation when binding a similar CTL epitope, Gag-GW12; the result makes the previously reported function clear to be non-cross-recognition between these two alleles. The structures plus Eqca-N*00602 complexed with a 9-mer peptide are particularly noteworthy in that we illuminated differences in apparent flexibility in the center of the epitope peptides for the complexes with Gag-GW12 as compared with Env-RW12, and a strict selection of epitope peptides with normal length. The featured preferences and unconventional presentations of long peptides by equine MHC I molecules provide structural bases to explain the exceptional anti-lentivirus immunity in the horse. We think that the beneficial reference points could serve as an initial platform for other human or animal lentiviruses.

Expression, refolding and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of equine MHC class I molecule complexed with an EIAV-Env CTL epitope.

In order to clarify the structure and the peptide-presentation characteristics of the equine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule, a complex of equine MHC class I molecule (ELA-A1 haplotype, 7-6 allele) with mouse ß(2)-microglobulin and the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope Env-RW12 (RVEDVTNTAEYW) derived from equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) envelope protein (residues 195-206) was refolded and crystallized. The crystal, which belonged to space group P2(1), diffracted to 2.3 Å resolution and had unit-cell parameters a = 82.5, b = 71.4, c = 99.8 Å, ß = 102.9°. The crystal structure contained two molecules in the asymmetric unit. These results should help to determine the first equine MHC class I molecule structure presenting an EIAV CTL epitope.

Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of nurse shark ß2-microglobulin.

ß(2)-Microglobulin (ß(2)m) is an essential subunit of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule that helps to stabilize the structure of peptide-MHC I (pMHC I). It is also one of the typical immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) molecules in the adaptive immune system (AIS). Sharks belong to the cartilaginous fish, which are the oldest jawed vertebrate ancestors with an AIS to exist in the world. Thus, the study of cartilaginous fish ß(2)m would help in understanding the evolution of IgSF molecules. In order to demonstrate this, ß(2)m from a cartilaginous fish, nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum), was expressed, refolded, purified and crystallized. Diffraction data were collected to a resolution of 2.3 Å. The crystal belonged to space group P3(2)21, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 88.230, c = 67.146 Å. The crystal structure contained two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The results will provide structural information for study of the evolution of ß(2)m and IgSF in the AIS.

Expression, crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of C-reactive protein from zebrafish.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein that is found in blood, the concentration of which in plasma rises rapidly in response to inflammation. It functions as a pattern-recognition molecule, recognizing dead cells and various pathogenic agents and eliminating them by utilizing the classical complement pathway and activating macrophages. CRP is phylogenetically highly conserved in invertebrates and mammals. To date, information on the CRP gene has been reported from numerous species of animals, but little is known about the structure of CRP from species other than humans. In order to solve the structure of CRP from bony fish, the CRP gene from zebrafiah (Danio rerio) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The zebrafish CRP (Dare-CRP) was then purified and crystallized. The crystal diffracted to 2.3 Å resolution and belonged to space group R3, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 114.7, c = 61.0 Å. The Matthews coefficient and solvent content were calculated to be 3.28 Å(3) Da(-1) and 62.55%, respectively. Determination of the zebrafish CRP structure should be helpful in investigating the evolution of CRPs in the innate immune system.

Leupaxin Expression Is Dispensable for B Cell Immune Responses.

The generation of a potent humoral immune response by B cells relies on the integration of signals induced by the B cell receptor, toll-like receptors and both negative and positive co-receptors. Several reports also suggest that integrin signaling plays an important role in this process. How integrin signaling is regulated in B cells is however still partially understood. Integrin activity and function are controlled by several mechanisms including regulation by molecular adaptors of the paxillin family. In B cells, Leupaxin (Lpxn) is the most expressed member of the family and in vitro studies suggest that it could dampen BCR signaling. Here, we report that Lpxn expression is increased in germinal center B cells compared to naïve B cells. Moreover, Lpxn deficiency leads to decreased B cell differentiation into plasma cells in vitro. However, Lpxn seems dispensable for the generation of a potent B cell immune response in vivo. Altogether our results suggest that Lpxn is dispensable for T-dependent and T-independent B cell immune responses.