Tech Spotlight: MHC-II-related Protein Mediates Apoptotic Cell Death

A research group led by John Cambier of the University of Colorado has identified and cloned a novel plasma membrane tetraspanner (MPYS, or MPHS in human), and determined that it is essential for induction of the MHC II mediated apoptotic death response. He has further shown that it mediates its effect in part through activation of p44/p42 MAPK. Reduction of this protein’s expression by >90% using short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) dramatically reduces  anti-MHC II mAb-induced death of lymphoma cells. Thus, MPYS may function in cell death responses by activating signaling pathways that impinge on survival signaling.

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