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ABSTRACT: Introduction
The HLA region is the hallmark of balancing selection, argued to be driven by the pressure to present a wide variety of viral epitopes. As such selection on the peptide-binding positions has been proposed to drive HLA population genetics. MHC molecules also directly binds to the T-Cell Receptor and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR).Methods
We here combine the HLA allele frequencies in over six-million Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC) donors with a novel machine-learning-based method to predict allele frequency.Results
We show for the first time that allele frequency can be predicted from their sequences. This prediction yields a natural measure for selection. The strongest selection is affecting KIR binding regions, followed by the peptide-binding cleft. The selection from the direct interaction with the KIR and TCR is centered on positively charged residues (mainly Arginine), and some positions in the peptide-binding cleft are not associated with the allele frequency, especially Tyrosine residues.Discussion
These results suggest that the balancing selection for peptide presentation is combined with a positive selection for KIR and TCR binding.
SUBMITTER: Levi R
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10703150 | biostudies-literature | 2023
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Levi Reut R Levi Lee L Louzoun Yoram Y
Frontiers in immunology 20231121
<h4>Introduction</h4>The HLA region is the hallmark of balancing selection, argued to be driven by the pressure to present a wide variety of viral epitopes. As such selection on the peptide-binding positions has been proposed to drive HLA population genetics. MHC molecules also directly binds to the T-Cell Receptor and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR).<h4>Methods</h4>We here combine the HLA allele frequencies in over six-million Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC) donors with a novel m ...[more]