{
  "abstract": "Highly polymorphic classical major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-Ia) molecules present peptides to T-cell receptors (TCRs) expressed on CD8+ T-cells. In contrast, nonclassical MHC-Ib molecules are less polymorphic, and the structural principles governing their recognition by TCRs remain poorly understood. H2-Q9, a murine Qa-2 family MHC-Ib molecule presents the mouse polyomavirus-derived VP2.139 peptide (HALNVVHDW) to CD8+ T-cells, yet the molecular basis of TCR recognition of H2-Q9/peptide complexes remains unclear. Here, we characterized the interactions of two VP2.139-specific TCRs, C3K and AH1, with the VP2.139 peptide presented by H2-Q9, which showed similar moderate binding affinities. We then determined the structure of the TCR C3K bound to the VP2.139 peptide presented by H2-Q9. TCR C3K adopted a diagonal docking orientation and was tilted toward the N-terminal end of the peptide. The CDR3 loops formed extensive contacts with peptide positions P1–P8, whereas alanine-scanning mutagenesis at positions P1–P7 impaired TCR recognition. Structural comparison of H2-Q9 with classical murine MHC-Ia molecules identified substitutions in the α3-domain that alter the CD8-binding interface and may explain the previously observed absence of CD8 binding to H2-Q9. Together, these findings provide insight into antigen recognition by a monomorphic MHC-Ib molecule.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Infection and Immunity Program & Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia",
    "Department of Cell and Biological Systems, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA",
    "Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Luke Tennant"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Chacko Jobichen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mai T. Tran"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Carine Farenc"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Stephanie Gras"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Aron E. Lukacher"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Lucy C. Sullivan"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Andrew G. Brooks"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Jamie Rossjohn"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dgcernrhe25rx.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.jbc.2026.113574",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13696813/",
  "id": "dgcernrhe25rx",
  "issns": [
    "0021-9258",
    "1083-351X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2026.113574",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Research Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213472620",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13696813",
  "pmid": "42754157",
  "published": "2026-09-17",
  "publisher": "American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dgcernrhe25rx.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:06Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13696813",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2026.113574"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1312|vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A murine MHC-Ib molecule, H2-Q9, drives peptide-centric T-cell receptor recognition of a viral antigen",
  "title_text": "A murine MHC-Ib molecule, H2-Q9, drives peptide-centric T-cell receptor recognition of a viral antigen",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:34:05Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dgcernrhe25rx",
  "venue": "The Journal of Biological Chemistry",
  "versions": []
}