Involved in the transport of antigens from the cytoplasm to the endoplasmic reticulum for association with MHC class I molecules. Also acts as a molecular scaffold for the final stage of MHC class I folding, namely the binding of peptide. Nascent MHC class I molecules associate with TAP via tapasin. Inhibited by the covalent attachment of herpes simplex virus ICP47 protein, which blocks the peptide-binding site of TAP. Inhibited by human cytomegalovirus US6 glycoprotein, which binds to the lumenal side of the TAP complex and inhibits peptide translocation by specifically blocking ATP-binding to TAP1 and prevents the conformational rearrangement of TAP induced by peptide binding. Inhibited by human adenovirus E3-19K glycoprotein, which binds the TAP complex and acts as a tapasin inhibitor, preventing MHC class I/TAP association. Expression of TAP1 is down-regulated by human Epstein-Barr virus vIL-1 protein, thereby affecting the transport of peptides into the endoplasmic reticulum and subsequent peptide loading by MHC class I molecules.
