To enhance HLA-A2.1 molecule affinity and immunogenicity of the tyrosinase related protein-2 (180～188) epitope, the classical epitope prediction methods including the polynomial method and the quantitative motif method were used to predict the modified epitope. Then four altered peptide ligands (APLs) with high score were synthesized, and their affinity with HLA-A2.1 molecule was assayed. The results show that the four APLs have high affinity, but the results of single mutant at P2 are better than those of double mutant at P1 and P2. So the molecular modeling was performed to study the interaction between the APLs and HLA-A2 molecule, and the results give a rational reason for the experimental results and provide the theoretical base for the further structure modification. This study provides a rational and high efficiency method to screen mimotope.

Key words: tyrosinase related protein-2, mimotope, molecular modeling