SARS-CoV-2 accessory proteins ORF7a and ORF3a use distinct mechanisms to down-regulate MHC-I surface expression.

ABSTRACT: Major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules, which are dimers of a glycosylated polymorphic transmembrane heavy chain and the small-protein β₂-microglobulin (β₂m), bind peptides in the endoplasmic reticulum that are generated by the cytosolic turnover of cellular proteins. In virus-infected cells, these peptides may include those derived from viral proteins. Peptide-MHC-I complexes then traffic through the secretory pathway and are displayed at the cell surface where those containing viral peptides can be detected by CD8⁺ T lymphocytes that kill infected cells. Many viruses enhance their in vivo survival by encoding genes that down-regulate MHC-I expression to avoid CD8⁺ T cell recognition. Here, we report that two accessory protei

SUBMITTER: Arshad N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9910621 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature