title: TAP genes and immunity.
abstract: The transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) is a member of the ATP-binding cassette transporter family that specializes in delivering cytosolic peptides to class I molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum. The TAP is a major target of genetic alteration in tumours and disruption by viral inhibitors. In some species, TAP genes have co-evolved with MHC class I molecules to deliver peptides that are customised for particular alleles. In humans, MHC class I polymorphism determines the level of tapasin-mediated association with TAP and subsequent peptide optimisation within the peptide-loading complex (PLC). MHC class I molecules that still load peptides without complexing to the TAP might be more resistant to viral interference of the PLC and less sensitive to competition for TAP by other class I allotypes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. jamesm1@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCluskey
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rossjohn
authors.forename: Anthony W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Purcell
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017920:Antiporters / Q000276:immunology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D017920:Antiporters; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C107762:tapasin; C477327:transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP)