Self-Association of an Activating Natural Killer Cell Receptor, KIR2DS1

Hayley, Michael and Bourbigot, Sarah and Booth, Valerie (2011) Self-Association of an Activating Natural Killer Cell Receptor, KIR2DS1. PLoS ONE, 6 (8). pp. 1-6. ISSN 1932-6203

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Abstract

As a major component of the innate immune system, natural killer cells are responsible for activating the cytolytic killing of certain pathogen-infected or tumor cells. The self-recognition of natural killer cells is achieved in part by the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) protein family. In the current study, using a suite of biophysical methods, we investigate the self-association of an activating KIR, KIR2DS1. This KIR is of particular interest because when in the presence of the HLA-Cw6 protein, KIR2DS1 becomes a major risk factor for psoriasis, an autoimmune chronic skin disease. Using circular dichroism spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and atomic force microscopy, we reveal that KIR2DS1 self-associates in a well-defined fashion. Our novel results on an activating KIR allow us to suggest a working model for the KIR2DS1- HLA class I molecular mechanism.

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