Characterization of amino acid residues of T-cell receptors interacting with HLA-A*02-restricted antigen peptides

Background The present study aimed to explore residues' properties interacting with HLA-A*02-restricted peptides on T-cell receptors (TCRs) and their effects on bond types of interaction and binding free energy. Methods We searched the crystal structures of HLA-A*02-restricted peptide-TCR complexes from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) database and subsequently collected relevant parameters. We then employed Schrodinger to analyze the bond types of interaction and Gromacs 2019 to evaluate the TCR-antigen peptide complex's molecular dynamics simulation. Finally, we compared the changes of bond types of interaction and binding free energy before and after residue substitution to ensure consistency of the conditions before and after residue substitution. Results The main sites on the antigen peptides that formed the intermolecular interaction [hydrogen bond (HB) and pi stack] with TCRs were P4, P8, P2, and P6. The hydrophobicity of the amino acids inside or outside the disulfide bond of TCRs may be related to the intermolecular interaction and binding free energy between TCRs and peptides. Residues located outside the disulfide bond of TCR α or β chains and forming pi stack force played favorable roles in the complex intermolecular interaction and binding free energy. The residues of the TCR α or β chains that interacted with peptides were replaced by alanine (Ala) or glycine (Gly), and their intermolecular binding free energy of the complex had been improved. However, it had nothing to do with the formation of HB. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that the hydrophobic nature of the amino acids inside or outside the disulfide bonds on the TCR may be associated with the intermolecular interaction and binding between the TCR and polypeptide. The residues located outside the TCR α or β single-chain disulfide bond and forming the pi-stack force showed a beneficial effect on the intermolecular interaction and binding of the complex. In addition, the part of the residues on the TCR α or β single chain that produced bond types of interaction with the polypeptide after being replaced by Ala or Gly, the intermolecular binding free energy of the complex was increased, regardless of whether HB was formed.