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MHC and Antigen Presentation definitions

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  • Major Histocompatibility Complex
    A group of molecules crucial for presenting antigen fragments to T cells, enabling immune system activation and pathogen recognition.
  • MHC Class 1
    A molecule with a single polypeptide chain and Beta 2 microglobulin, presenting intracellular peptides to cytotoxic T cells.
  • MHC Class 2
    A heterodimeric molecule encoded by two genes, presenting extracellular peptides to T helper and regulatory T cells.
  • Cytotoxic T Cell
    A lymphocyte activated by peptide-MHC class 1 complexes, specialized in targeting and destroying infected cells.
  • T Helper Cell
    A lymphocyte activated by peptide-MHC class 2 complexes, essential for coordinating immune responses.
  • T Regulatory Cell
    A lymphocyte activated by peptide-MHC class 2 complexes, involved in suppressing immune reactions to maintain tolerance.
  • Beta 2 Microglobulin
    A small protein non-covalently associated with MHC class 1, stabilizing its structure for antigen presentation.
  • Peptide Binding Site
    A groove on MHC molecules where antigen fragments are loaded for display to T cells, differing in length between classes.
  • Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway
    A cellular system that tags and degrades intracellular proteins into peptides for MHC class 1 presentation.
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum
    An organelle where MHC molecules are assembled and loaded with antigenic peptides before surface expression.
  • Lysosome
    A vesicular compartment where extracellular pathogens are degraded into peptides for MHC class 2 loading.
  • CLIP
    A peptide fragment occupying the MHC class 2 binding site in the lysosome, temporarily blocking premature peptide loading.
  • Heterodimer
    A protein complex formed by two different polypeptide chains, characteristic of MHC class 2 structure.
  • Antigen
    A molecular fragment, often from a pathogen, recognized and presented by MHC molecules to activate T cells.
  • Pathogen
    An infectious agent, either intracellular or extracellular, whose fragments are processed for immune recognition.