Presentation of peptides derived from endogenous
proteins by class I major histocompatibility complex molecules
is essential both for immunological self-tolerance and
induction of cytotoxic T-cell responses against intracellular
parasites. Despite frequent and diverse post-translational
modification of eukaryotic cell proteins, very few class
I-bound peptides with post-translationally modified residues
are known. Here we describe a natural dodecamer ligand of HLA-B39
(B*3910) derived from an RNA-binding nucleoprotein that carried
NG,NG-dimethyl-Arg.
Although common among RNA-binding proteins, this modification
was not previously known among natural class I ligands.
The sequence of this peptide was determined by Edman degradation
and electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry. The fragmentation
pattern of the dimethyl-Arg side chain observed with this
latter technique allowed us to unambiguously assign the
isomeric form of the modified residue. The post-translationally
modified ligand was a prominent component (1–2%)
of the B*3910-bound peptide repertoire. The dimethyl-Arg
residue was located in a central position of the peptide,
amenable to interacting with T-cell receptors, and most
other residues in the middle region of the peptide were
Gly. These structural features strongly suggest that the
post-translationally modified residue may have a major
influence on the antigenic properties of this natural ligand.