Crystal structure of adenovirus E3-19K bound to HLA-A2 reveals mechanism for immunomodulation.

Adenovirus infection can suppress antigen presentation by MHC I, by the action of transmembrane protein E3-19K, whose N-terminal domain localizes to the ER lumen and binds MHC I luminal domain. Now the crystal structure of E3-19K in complex with MHC I molecule HLA-A2 is presented, providing atomic-level insight into this interaction.