CD 74, CD74 antigen, CD74 molecule, CLIP, DHLAG, Gamma chain of class II antigens, HG2A_HUMAN, HLA class II histocompatibility antigen gamma chain, HLA DR antigens associated invariant chain, HLA DR gamma, HLA-DR antigens-associated invariant chain, HLA-DR-gamma, HLADG, HLADR antigens associated invariant chain, Ia antigen associated invariant chain, Ia antigen-associated invariant chain, Ia associated invariant chain, Ia gamma, Ii, Invariant polypeptide of major histocompatibility complex class II antigen associated, la-gamma, Major histocompatibility complex class II invariant chain, MHC HLA DR gamma chain, MHC HLA-DR gamma chain, p33, p35, Protein 41.
Plays a critical role in MHC class II antigen processing by stabilizing peptide-free class II alpha/beta heterodimers in a complex soon after their synthesis and directing transport of the complex from the endoplasmic reticulum to the endosomal/lysosomal system where the antigen processing and binding of antigenic peptides to MHC class II takes place. Serves as cell surface receptor for the cytokine MIF.