Maria Saline

Publications (2)8.12 Total impact

• Article: The structure of superantigen complexed with TCR and MHC reveals novel insights into superantigenic T cell activation.

  Maria Saline, Karin E J Rödström, Gerhard Fischer, Vladislav Yu Orekhov, B Göran Karlsson, Karin Lindkvist-Petersson
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  ABSTRACT: Superantigens (SAgs) are bacterial toxins that interact with immunoreceptors, T cell receptor (TCR) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, conventionally through the variable β-domain of TCR (TCRVβ). They induce a massive release of cytokines, which can lead to diseases such as food poisoning and toxic shock syndrome. In this study, we report the X-ray structure of the ternary complex between staphylococcal enterotoxin H (SEH) and its human receptors, MHC class II and TCR. The structure demonstrates that SEH predominantly interacts with the variable α-domain of TCR (TCRVα), which is supported by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. Furthermore, there is no contact between MHC and TCR upon complex formation. Structural analyses suggest that the major contact points to TCRVα are conserved among other bacterial SAgs. Consequently, a new dimension of SAg biology emerges, suggesting that in addition to the conventional interactions with the TCRVβ domain, SAgs can also activate T cells through the TCRVα domain.
  Nature Communications 11/2010; 1:119. · 7.40 Impact Factor
• Article: Backbone resonance assignment of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin H.

  Maria Saline, Vladislav Orekhov, Karin Lindkvist-Petersson, B Göran Karlsson
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  ABSTRACT: The staphylococcal enterotoxin H (SEH; 217 aa, 25 kD) belongs to a family of superantigens that cause a massive immune response upon simultaneous binding to the T cell receptor (TCR) and the major histocompatibility complex class II. The SEH-TCR interaction is weak and amenable to studies using NMR methodology. Essentially, 2 mg of U{(2)H, (13)C,(15)N}-labeled SEH was used for the complete sequential backbone assignment of SEH at 900 MHz. The protein secondary structure inferred from the chemical shift index (C(alpha) and C(beta)) is in very good agreement with the secondary structure elements of the X-ray structure.
  Biomolecular NMR Assignments 11/2009; 4(1):1-4. · 0.72 Impact Factor