Structural studies on antigen presentation in liver cancer, alzheimer and type 1 diabetes

In our previous works, we successfully applied high-resolution X-ray crystallography at Xaloc beamline to elucidate the structural basis of TCR–MHC interactions in cancer and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). These studies provided detailed insights into conformational adaptations, binding specificity, and cross-reactivity, with important implications for immunotherapy and precision medicine. Building on this foundation, the present proposal extends our structural investigations to antigen-presenting molecules in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. Increasing evidence suggests that immune mechanisms, including the presentation of disease-associated peptides by MHC and related molecules, may critically influence neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. By characterizing the structures of TCR–MHC and related complexes with Alzheimer’s-associated antigens, we aim to uncover new molecular mechanisms linking adaptive immunity to neurodegenerative pathology. This continuation of our program will not only consolidate the advances made in cancer and diabetes but also open a new line of research into immune contributions to Alzheimer’s disease, reinforcing the value of synchrotron-based crystallography for addressing major biomedical challenges.