BETA2-MICROGLOBULIN

β2-Microglobulin from human urine was used to test humoral CSF parameters in the differential diagnosis of hematologic CNS neoplasia. It was also used in the identification of CTL epitopes in hepatitis C virus by a genome-wide computational scanning and a rational design of peptide vaccine.

β2 microglobulin (β2-M) is a polypeptide that associates with the heavy chain of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens on the cell surface. The interaction is dynamic and plays a critical role in the stability of the MHC antigens and their ability to present peptide antigens in CD8+ cells. A transient complex of MHC heavy chain and β2-M is known to be assembled into the TAP molecule (transporter associated with antigen processing) through interactions with a number of chaperones. Binding of processed peptide releases the Class I-β2-M complex to the cell surface. Absence of binding leads to degradation in the proteasome.