Explain the importance of promiscuous binding specificity exhibited by MHC class I and class II molecules

What will be an ideal response?


Each MHC molecule can bind to a very large number of peptides made up of different sequences of amino acids. The consequence of this promiscuity is that humans need only encode a relatively small number of MHC molecules in their genome if they are to bind to the huge number of pathogen-derived peptides encountered during a lifetime of infections. Because MHC molecules are coexpressed on the cell surface, this also ensures that an appropriate density of MHC molecules populates the cell surface to ensure efficient T-cell engagement and subsequent activation.

Health & Biomechanics

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