Download MendeleyStructure of interleukin 4 mutant E9A suggests polar steering in receptor-complex formation.
Hulsmeyer, M., Scheufler, C., Dreyer, M.K.(2001) Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 57: 1334-1336
- PubMed: 11526337
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1107/s0907444901009799
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
1HZI - PubMed Abstract:
Interleukin 4 (IL-4) is a pleiotropic cytokine which induces T-cell differentiation and class switching of B cells. It therefore plays a central role in the development of allergies and asthma. An IL-4 variant in which Glu9 was mutated to alanine shows an 800-fold drop in binding affinity towards its high-affinity receptor chain. As shown by surface plasmon resonance measurements, this mostly arises from a decreased association rate. Here, the crystal structure of this mutant is reported. It reveals that the protein has a virtually identical structure to the wild type, showing that the unusual behaviour of the mutated protein is not a consequence of misfolding. The possibility that polar interactions in the encounter complex have a steering effect is discussed.
Organizational Affiliation:
Physiologische Chemie II, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany. martin.huelsmeyer@charite.de
