This research seeks to develop and exploit methods for the discovery of molecular events involved in cell-cell recognition, especially among cellular components of the immune system. The techniques employed are those of physical chemistry, membrane biochemistry, and immunology. Immediate objectives include a determination of the kinetic mechanisms for the reactions between antigenic peptides and class 1 as well as class 11 molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (M-molecules). Such reactions are relevant to immune responses to virus infections, such as the killing of virus infected cells by cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, as well as the production of anti-virus antibodies facilitated by helper T-lymphocytes. The physical chemical techniques to be employed include evanescent wave fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence depolarization and NMR. The techniques of molecular biology will be used in an attempt to express class 11 M-molecules in water soluble form for such studies. Biophysical-biochemical experiments on tissue specific lymphocyte homing are also contemplated.
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