es bind to antigens for presentation on the surface of cells. The proteasome is responsible for producing these antigens from the components of foreign pathogens. MHC class 1 molecules consist of an a heavy chain that contains three subdomains (α1, α2, α3), and a non-covalent associating light chain, known as β-2-Microglobulin. β-2-Microglobulin associates with the a3 subdomain of the a heavy chain and forms an immunoglobulin domain-like structure that mediates proper folding and expression of MHC class 1 molecules. The α1 and α2 domains of the a heavy chain form the peptide antigen-binding cleft.
