Résumé
The invariant chain (Ii) binds to newly synthesized major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules and is targeted to an acidic compartment where it is degraded. To evaluate its role on the conformation and the subcellular distribution of murine MHC class II molecules we have established stable L cell transfectants expressing class II IAk heterodimers alone or in conjunction with p31 and p41 Ii chains. In these cells, class II molecules were present under three forms: αβ heterodimers bearing high mannose carbohydrate moieties, and fully glycosylated αβ heterodimers that are sensitive or resistant to sodium dodecyl sulfate dissociation at 20 °C. The latter class II molecules called compact heterodimers, were here highly induced in Ii‐positive cells. Using in situ iodination of endosomal compartments, class II heterodimers were detected in late endosomal compartments essentially as compact forms in Ii‐positive cells, and as non‐compact forms in Ii‐negative cells. Using confocal microscopy, IAk molecules were located in compartments distinct from early endosomes labeled with transferrin, but partially coincident with vesicles containing fluid‐phase markers, and highly coincident with compartments containing large amounts of cathepsins B, D, H, and L in Ii‐positive and Ii‐negative cells. At the ultrastructural level, class II molecules were mostly present in multivesicular bodies, even without Ii expression. But Ii chains were needed to induce an efficient presentation of the hen egg lysozyme antigen and were sufficient to promote a major conformational change of the late endosomal, and/or lysosomal resident, class II molecules. Ii molecules are presumably playing a chaperoning function favoring the association of peptides with class II molecules in endosomal compartments.