Peptides bound endogenously by HLA‐Cw*0304 expressed in LCL 721. 221 cells include a peptide derived from HLA‐E

Abstract
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 β2‐microglobu‐lin (β2‐m)‐associated HLA‐E protein.