Structural insights into the common γ-chain family of cytokines and receptors from the interleukin-7 pathway.

ABSTRACT: Over the past 13 years, numerous crystal structures of complexes of the common γ-chain (γ(c)) cytokine receptors and their cytokines have been solved. Even with the remarkable progress in the structural biology of γ(c) receptors and their cytokines or interleukins, there are valuable lessons to be learned from the structural and biophysical studies of interleukin-7 (IL-7) and its α-receptor (IL-7Rα) and comparisons with other γ(c) family members. The structure of the IL-7/IL-7Rα complex teaches that interfaces between the γ(c) interleukins and their receptors can vary in size, polarity, and specificity, and that significant conformational changes might be necessary for complexes of interleukins and their receptors to bind the shared, activating γ(c) receptor. Binding, kinetic, and thermody

SUBMITTER: Walsh ST 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3471675 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature