# STRUCTURES OF IMMUNOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT MOLECULES

> **NIH NIH R01** · HARVARD UNIVERSITY · 1988 · $338,371

## Abstract

1. Structural studies of Class I MHC antigens.  The structural analysis of
naturally occurring population variants of Class I HLA antigens HLA-A2,
-B7, -B27 and -B8, will be carried out in order to define functional sites
in these molecules.

2. Structural studies of Class II MHC antigens.  The separation of subsets
of Class II HLA antigens (HLA-Dr, DQ and DP) at the protein level is
essential for full characterization and, in particular, to investigate
several novel features of the SQ and DP subsets, as well as to obtain
materials for use in crystallization and in functional studies.  The
structures of the DQ2 Alpha and Beta alleles in normal individuals and in
patients with coeliac disease will be investigated in order to establish
whether or not the linkage of this autoimmune disease to DQ1 is associated
with a particular 'disease allele'.  The structures of two DRw6Beta chains
in two DRw6 cells (WT46 and WT52) will be examined to ascertain if genetic
exchange between DRBeta alleles may have led to the generation of these
cell lines.

3. The interaction of Class I and Class II MHC antigens with human T cell
specific proteins T4 and T8.  Several techniques will be employed to
examine the possibility that a functionally important protein-protein
interaction can occur between these molecules.

4. The crystal structures of immunologically important molecules.  The
crystal structure of HLA-A2 is advancing rapidly and will be completed.
Crystallization of a secreted form of HLA-A2 will also be attempted.
Attempts to obtain, crystallize and examine the crystal structure of a
soluble form of HLA-DR1 and of both water soluble and detergent soluble
forms of the T cell specific protein T8 will be made.  Finally, the use of
genetic manipulation to obtain soluble forms of immunologically important
molecules for crystallographic studies will be explored.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3124806
- **Project number:** 5R01AI010736-14
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LN53LCFJFL45
- **Principal Investigator:** JACK L STROMINGER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $338,371
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1976-02-01 → 1989-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3124806

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3124806, STRUCTURES OF IMMUNOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT MOLECULES (5R01AI010736-14). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3124806. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*