Structural mechanism of tapasin-mediated MHC-I peptide loading in antigen presentation

Loading of MHC-I molecules with peptide by the catalytic chaperone tapasin in the peptide loading complex plays a critical role in antigen presentation and immune recognition. Mechanistic insight has been hampered by the lack of detailed structural information concerning tapasin-MHC-I. We present here crystal structures of human tapasin complexed with the MHC-I molecule HLA-B*44:05, and with each of two anti-tapasin antibodies. The tapasin-stabilized peptide-receptive state of HLA-B*44:05 is characterized by distortion of the peptide binding groove and destabilization of the β₂-microglobulin interaction, leading to release of peptide. Movements of the membrane proximal Ig-like domains of tapasin, HLA-B*44:05, and β₂-microglobulin accompany the transition to a peptide-receptive state. Together this ensemble of crystal structures provides insights into a distinct mechanism of tapasin-mediated peptide exchange.