title: The cell biology of antigen processing.
abstract: T lymphocytes recognize antigen only after a series of intracellular events known as antigen processing. The result of antigen processing is the production of short segments of the primary peptide sequence bound to a polypeptide-binding groove on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Antigen originates from one of two sites: intracellular or extracellular. There are two corresponding pathways for antigen processing and two corresponding classes of MHC molecule. Analysis of each pathway has demonstrated that their separation is not purely anatomical, but is maintained by molecular interactions with other molecules. Antigen processing has been shown to regulate the overall immune response, but the mechanisms involved remain obscure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University College London, England.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Chain
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001665:Binding Sites; D003034:Coated Pits, Cell-Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D004705:Endocytosis; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000502:physiology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000276:immunology; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000502:physiology; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D010450:Endopeptidases