title: The transporter associated with antigen processing: a key player in adaptive immunity.
abstract: The adaptive immune system co-evolved with sophisticated pathways of antigen processing for efficient clearance of viral infections and malignant transformation. Antigenic peptides are primarily generated by proteasomal degradation and translocated into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP). In the ER, peptides are loaded onto major histocompatibility complex I (MHC I) molecules orchestrated by a multisubunit peptide-loading complex (PLC). Peptide-MHC I complexes are targeted to the cell surface for antigen presentation to cytotoxic T cells, which eventually leads to the elimination of virally infected or malignantly transformed cells. Here, we review MHC I mediated antigen processing with a primary focus on the function and structural organization of the heterodimeric ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter TAP1/2. We discuss recent data on the molecular transport mechanism of the antigen translocation complex with respect to structural and biochemical information of other ABC exporters. We further summarize how TAP provides a scaffold for the assembly of the macromolecular PLC, thereby coupling peptide translocation with MHC I loading. TAP inhibition by distinct viral evasins highlights the important role of TAP in adaptive immunity.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eggensperger
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tampé
mesh_terms: D000071181:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2; D000071450:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 3; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000071181:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2; D000071450:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 3; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D000941:Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C073119:TAP1 protein, human; C071692:TAP2 protein, human