Peptide Length and MHC Class II Affinity
Author Information
Author(s): Cathal O'Brien, Darren R. Flower, Conleth Feighery
Primary Institution: Department of Immunology and Institute of Molecular Medicine, St James's Hospital and Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Hypothesis
Does peptide length influence the affinity for MHC class II molecules?
Conclusion
Peptide length significantly affects MHC class II affinity, with an optimal length of approximately 18–20 amino acids.
Supporting Evidence
- Most peptide elongation events resulted in increased MHC class II affinity.
- An optimal peptide length for MHC class II affinity was identified as approximately 18–20 amino acids.
- Elongation beyond the optimal length resulted in null or negative effects on affinity.
Takeaway
Longer peptides can stick better to MHC class II molecules, but there's a sweet spot around 18 to 20 amino acids where they work best.
Methodology
Data from the AntiJen database was analyzed to assess the impact of peptide elongation on MHC class II affinity.
Potential Biases
Potential publication bias favoring HLA-DR may affect the generalizability of the findings.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on HLA-DR alleles, which may not represent all MHC class II interactions.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.959
Statistical Significance
p = 0.959
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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