Project Details
Projekt
Switching antigens by the exchange catalyst HLA-DM (A21)
Subject Area
Biochemistry
Term
since 2020
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 278001972
In project A21 it is planned to analyze the role of the peptide exchange catalyst HLA-DM in the display of MHC class II (MHCII) peptide antigens that are related to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The HLA-DM susceptibility for different genetic variants of MHCII will be determined and the hypothesis will be followed that a conformational switch underlies the formation of the MHCII/HLA-DM complex and as a consequence influences the risk for autoimmune disease. The implications of the HLA-DM switch for the immunopeptidome and the surface presentation of autoantigens will be investigated experimentally and conceptualized by mathematical modeling.
DFG Programme
CRC/Transregios
Applicant Institution
Freie Universität Berlin
Project Heads
Professor Dr. Christian Freund; Professor Dr. Thomas Höfer
