Cytotoxic T cells recognize fragments of the influenza nucleoprotein.
Recent work has shown that a major population of murine influenza A specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) recognize the viral nucleoprotein. In order to investigate the mechanism by which this nonglycoprotein component of the virus is recognized by CTL, a series of deletion mutants of an A virus NP gene were studied. The results showed that CTL recognize three distinct epitopes of the NP molecule. Both N- and C-terminal fragments of the protein are transported, independently of each other, to the site of recognition by CTL. These findings imply that a mechanism may exist for transport to the cell surface and presentation to CTL, of viral proteins and protein fragments that lack defined signal sequences.
Townsend
A R
AR
Gotch
F M
FM
Davey
J
J
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002999:Clone Cells; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007739:L Cells; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009154:Mutation; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D006183:H-2 Antigens; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D014764:Viral Proteins