It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Major histocompatibility complex. (Discuss)

MHC class I molecules are cell surface proteins found on most cells of the body. These proteins have a distinctive structure first elucidated in 1987 by Dr. Pamela J. Bjorkman and colleagues. MHC molecules typically interact with the cell surface receptor of a type of lymphocytes known as killer T cells. The receptor on the killer T cell binds to the MHC molecule and informs the killer T cell on whether that cell is normal or not. The interesting part of the story is how the T cell can distinguish the MHC class I protein on a normal cell from that on an abnormal one. The key concept here is to appreciate that the MHC molecule has within its structure a groove. Into this groove is bound a small piece of protein derived from within the cell, that was placed there during the synthesis of the MHC molecule. If this peptide of 8 or 9 amino acids happens to be a foreign peptide, such as one produced by a viral gene, or a cancer gene, the T cell will become activated, and attack the infected or cancerous cell. Of course there are many more details involved in this process. Of primary interest to medicine and the average person is the fact that when an organ is transplanted between non-identical people, it is the recipient's T cells reacting against the donor organ MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) proteins that causes much of organ rejection. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... It has been suggested that Class I MHC be merged into this article or section. ... Cells in culture, stained for keratin (red) and DNA (green) The cell is the structural and functional unit of all living organisms, and are sometimes called the building blocks of life. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article has been identified as possibly containing errors. ... A K cell (or a killer cell) is a lymphocyte with immunoglobulin Fc receptors, which allow it to bind to and kill antibody-coated cells by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). ... In chemistry, an amino acid is any molecule that contains both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. ... The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) A virus is a submicroscopic parasite that infects cells in biological organisms. ... When normal cells are damaged beyond repair, they are eliminated by apoptosis. ... Medicine is the branch of health science and the sector of public life concerned with maintaining human health or restoring it through the treatment of disease and injury. ... An organ transplant is the transplantation of a whole or partial organ from one body to another (or from a donor site on the patients own body), for the purpose of replacing the recipients damaged or failing organ with a working one from the donor site. ... It has been suggested that Class I MHC be merged into this article or section. ... Organ rejection is a process by which the immune system of the recipient of a transplant attacks the transplanted organ. ...