Beta2-Microglobulin Antigen

The β2-microglobulin is the non-polymorphic non-covalently bound light chain (12 kDa) of the class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC-I) constitutively expressed on the surface of almost all nucleated cell. β2-microglobulin structure, stabilized by a disulfide bound, is similar to an immunoglobulin like domain. β2-microglobulin is required in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to associate with the MHC class I heavy molecule to form with other proteins (calreticulin, tapasin, etc.) the loading complex that exits the ER and is transported to the cell surface. After peptide presentation, β2-microglobulin is actively released into circulation.