The crystal structure of human endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 2 reveals the atomic basis for distinct roles in antigen processing

Biochemistry. 2012 Jan 10;51(1):286-95. doi: 10.1021/bi201230p. Epub 2011 Dec 9.

Abstract

Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases ERAP1 and ERAP2 cooperate to trim a vast variety of antigenic peptide precursors to generate mature epitopes for binding to major histocompatibility class I molecules. We report here the first structure of ERAP2 determined at 3.08 Å by X-ray crystallography. On the basis of residual electron density, a lysine residue has been modeled in the active site of the enzyme; thus, the structure corresponds to an enzyme-product complex. The overall domain organization is highly similar to that of the recently determined structure of ERAP1 in its closed conformation. A large internal cavity adjacent to the catalytic site can accommodate large peptide substrates. The ERAP2 structure provides a structural explanation for the different peptide N-terminal specificities between ERAP1 and ERAP2 and suggests that such differences extend throughout the whole peptide sequence. A noncrystallographic dimer observed may constitute a model for a proposed ERAP1-ERAP2 heterodimer. Overall, the structure helps explain how two homologous aminopeptidases cooperate to process a large variety of sequences, a key property of their biological role.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aminopeptidases / chemistry*
  • Aminopeptidases / metabolism
  • Aminopeptidases / physiology
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / enzymology*
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / immunology*
  • Glycosylation
  • HLA Antigens / chemistry
  • HLA Antigens / physiology
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / chemistry
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / physiology
  • Humans
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Models, Molecular
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / physiology
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Precursors / chemistry
  • Protein Precursors / physiology
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / physiology

Substances

  • HLA Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Peptides
  • Protein Precursors
  • Aminopeptidases
  • ERAP1 protein, human
  • ERAP2 protein, human

Associated data

  • PDB/3SE6