Peptides bound endogenously by HLA-Cw*0304 expressed in LCL 721.221 cells include a peptide derived from HLA-E

The peptide-binding specificity of HLA-Cw*0304 was determined. Sequence analysis of endogenously-bound peptides isolated from Cw*0304 expressed by LCL 721.221 (221 for short) cells transfected with Cw*0304 cDNA revealed this class I allotype preferentially binds peptides possessing alanine at position 2 and leucine or methionine at the C-terminus. One peptide isolated from Cw*0304 expressed by 221 cells has sequence identity to residues 116-126 of HLA-E. Expression of HLA-E by 221 cells was confirmed by isolation of mRNA transcripts for HLA-E*0101 and detection of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m)-associated HLA-E protein.