title: Self-association of an activating natural killer cell receptor, KIR2DS1.
abstract: As a major component of the innate immune system, natural killer cells are responsible for activating the cytolytic killing of certain pathogen-infected or tumor cells. The self-recognition of natural killer cells is achieved in part by the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) protein family. In the current study, using a suite of biophysical methods, we investigate the self-association of an activating KIR, KIR2DS1. This KIR is of particular interest because when in the presence of the HLA-Cw6 protein, KIR2DS1 becomes a major risk factor for psoriasis, an autoimmune chronic skin disease. Using circular dichroism spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and atomic force microscopy, we reveal that KIR2DS1 self-associates in a well-defined fashion. Our novel results on an activating KIR allow us to suggest a working model for the KIR2DS1- HLA class I molecular mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayley
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bourbigot
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Booth
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D054340:Receptors, KIR / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation
chemical_list: D054340:Receptors, KIR