Sebastian Springer
Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jacobs University Bremen, Germany
MHC class I proteins - exciting biochemistry, cell biology, and immunobiotechnology
Host: Paula Videira
Abstract
MHC (major histocompatibility complex) class I proteins are central in the fight of the immune system against tumors and viruses. They present intracellular peptides at the cell surface to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. I will tell about how their intracellular transport and their endocytosis is regulated, and how we found with an antibody micropattern assay that they form clusters at the cell surface. I will also explain how starting from theory work and basic science of protein-ligand binding, we have designed a variant of MHC class I proteins that allows the rapid production of MHC class I tetramers, which are crucial tools for tumor immunotherapy.
Short Bio
Professor Sebastian Springer has a degree in Biochemistry from the University of Tübingen, Germany. His PhD studies entitled " The biochemistry of antigen presentation" have defined his major areas of interest: the molecular mechanism of the antiviral and antitumor immune defence His research group focuses on the cell biology and biochemistry of the immune system, more specifically on the role of MHC (major histocompatibility complex) class I proteins with the ultimate goal of creating novel vaccination strategies. Recently, Prof Spinger and his team have also developed and patented new tools for the immunotherapy of viruses and tumors using peptide exchange on MHC class I proteins, and are now developing novel assays based on polyelectrolyte microcapsules to further explore these therapeutic avenues.