Description
Product Characteristics: HLA-class I major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens are intrinsic membrane glycoproteins expressed on nucleated cells and noncovalently associated with an invariant beta2 microglobulin. They carry foreign determinants important for immune recognition by cytotoxic T cells, thus important for anti-viral and anti-tumour defence. Human HLA-class I antigens are represented by HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C molecules.
Target Information: MICA encodes the higly polymorphic MHC (HLA) class I chain-related gene A. The protein product is expressed on the cell surface, although unlike canonical class I molecules does not seem to associate with beta-2-microglobulin. It is thought that MICA functions as a stress-induced antigen that is broadly recognized by intestinal epithelial gamma delta T cells. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2010]