3GXU

Crystal structure of Eph receptor and ephrin complex

Experimental Data Snapshot

  • Method: X-RAY DIFFRACTION
  • Resolution: 2.5 Å
  • R-Value Free: 0.273 
  • R-Value Work: 0.182 

wwPDB Validation 3D Report Full Report


This is version 1.1 of the entry. See complete history. 

Literature

Structural characterization of the EphA4-ephrin-B2 complex reveals new features enabling Eph-ephrin binding promiscuity

Qin, H., Noberini, R., Huan, X., Shi, J., Pasquale, E.B., Song, J.

(2009) J.Biol.Chem. --: --

  • DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M109.064824

  • PubMed Abstract: 

    • EphA and EphB receptors preferentially bind ephrin-A and ephrin-B ligands, respectively, but EphA4 is exceptional for its ability to bind all ephrins. Here, we report the crystal structure of the EphA4 ligand-binding domain in complex with ephrin-B2, ...

    EphA and EphB receptors preferentially bind ephrin-A and ephrin-B ligands, respectively, but EphA4 is exceptional for its ability to bind all ephrins. Here, we report the crystal structure of the EphA4 ligand-binding domain in complex with ephrin-B2, which represents the first structure of an EphA-ephrin-B interclass complex. A loose fit of the ephrin-B2 G-H loop in the EphA4 ligand-binding channel is consistent with a relatively weak binding affinity. Additional surface contacts also exist between EphA4 residues Gln(12) and Glu(14) and ephrin-B2. Mutation of Gln(12) and Glu(14) does not cause significant structural changes in EphA4 or changes in its affinity for ephrin-A ligands. However, the EphA4 mutant has approximately 10-fold reduced affinity for ephrin-B ligands, indicating that the surface contacts are critical for interclass but not intraclass ephrin binding. Thus, EphA4 uses different strategies to bind ephrin-A or ephrin-B ligands and achieve binding promiscuity. NMR characterization also suggests that the contacts of Gln(12) and Glu(14) with ephrin-B2 induce dynamic changes throughout the whole EphA4 ligand-binding domain. Our findings shed light on the distinctive features that enable the remarkable ligand binding promiscuity of EphA4 and suggest that diverse strategies are needed to effectively disrupt different Eph-ephrin complexes.

    Related Citations: 
    • Crystal structure and NMR binding reveal that two small molecule antagonists target the high affinity ephrin-binding channel of the EphA4 receptor
      Qin, H.,Shi, J.,Noberini, R.,Pasquale, E.B.,Song, J.
      (2008) J.Biol.Chem. 283: 29473
    • Crystal structure of an Eph receptor-ephrin complex
      Himanen, J.P.,Rajashankar, K.R.,Lackmann, M.,Cowan, C.A.,Henkemeyer, M.,Nikolov, D.B.
      (2001) Nature 414: 933

    Organizational Affiliation: 

    Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore.




Macromolecules

Find similar proteins by: Sequence  |  Structure

Entity ID: 1
MoleculeChainsSequence LengthOrganismDetails
Ephrin type-A receptor 4
A
175Homo sapiensMutation(s): 0 
Gene Names: EPHA4 (HEK8, SEK, TYRO1)
EC: 2.7.10.1
Find proteins for P54764 (Homo sapiens)
Go to Gene View: EPHA4
Go to UniProtKB:  P54764
Entity ID: 2
MoleculeChainsSequence LengthOrganismDetails
Ephrin-B2
B
143Homo sapiensMutation(s): 0 
Gene Names: EFNB2 (EPLG5, HTKL, LERK5)
Find proteins for P52799 (Homo sapiens)
Go to Gene View: EFNB2
Go to UniProtKB:  P52799
Experimental Data & Validation

Experimental Data

  • Method: X-RAY DIFFRACTION
  • Resolution: 2.5 Å
  • R-Value Free: 0.273 
  • R-Value Work: 0.182 
  • Space Group: P 1 21 1
Unit Cell:
Length (Å)Angle (°)
a = 54.651α = 90.00
b = 48.711β = 110.43
c = 64.469γ = 90.00
Software Package:
Software NamePurpose
CNSrefinement
HKL-2000data scaling
HKL-2000data reduction
CNSphasing
HKL-2000data collection

Structure Validation

View Full Validation Report or Ramachandran Plots


View more in-depth experimental data

Entry History 

Deposition Data

  • Deposited Date: 2009-04-03 
  • Released Date: 2009-10-27 
  • Deposition Author(s): Qin, H.N., Song, J.X.

Revision History 

  • Version 1.0: 2009-10-27
    Type: Initial release
  • Version 1.1: 2011-07-13
    Type: Version format compliance