Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I

From Proteopedia

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I: Background

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) refers to a complex of closely linked genes first identified in the early to mid-20th century as being the major factors in the rejection of living tissue allografts (grafts between members of the same species). It was these studies that gave MHC its name. Many other genes contribute to tissue allograft rejection in a minor way, and these were called minor histocompatibility genes. MHC genes code for MHC proteins that are the major antigens responsible for tissue allograft rejection. George D. Snell received one third of the 1980 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his contributions to the identification and characterization of these genes. Of course many other researchers made crucial contributions and they are credited in Snell's Nobel Lecture. Jean Dausset received a third of the 1980 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for demonstrating the existence of MHC genes and proteins in humans, the latter being called Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA).

Independently, in the early 1960's, Baruj Benacerraf and coworkers demonstrated the existence of immune response genes (IR genes) that controlled the ability of an individual guinea pig's immune system to respond to simple synthetic amino acid polymers. Benacerraf was awarded one third of the 1980 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering immune response genes.

3D Structure and Its Significance