IALYLQQNW is a specific nonapeptide sequence derived from the tumor-associated antigen latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) encoded by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). As a latent T-cell epitope, IALYLQQNW is able to activate EBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which are able to recognize and kill EBV-infected cells expressing LMP1. IALYLQQNW plays an important role in the immune response against EBV-associated tumors and can be used in the study of Hodgkin's disease and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
References:
[1]. Duraiswamy, et al. Ex vivo analysis of T-cell responses to Epstein-Barr virus-encoded oncogene latent membrane protein 1 reveals highly conserved epitope sequences in virus isolates from diverse geographic regions. Journal of virology 77.13 (2003): 7401-7410.