Conserved lipid and peptide presentation functions of nonclassical class I molecules

Abstract CD1-mediated lipid presentation to natural killer (NK) T cells is highly conserved between rodents and humans. Similarly, HLA-E- or Qa-1-mediated presentation of class-I-derived leader peptides to inhibitory NK receptors is functionally conserved. Here, Mitchell Kronenberg and colleagues discuss these two systems, which provide the first evidence for a conserved ligand-binding or presentation function for nonclassical class I molecules.