title: Requirement of cysteine-rich repeats of the Fas receptor for binding by the Fas ligand.
abstract: The Fas receptor is a member of a family of cell death receptors, including tumor necrosis factor receptor I (TNFR I), death receptor 3 and 4 (DR3 and DR4), and cytopathic avian receptor 1 (CAR1). The Fas receptor is composed of several discrete domains, including three cysteine-rich domains (CRDs), a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular domain responsible for transmitting an apoptotic signal. While the mechanism of Fas-mediated cell death has become elucidated, the requirements for Fas ligand binding to the receptor have not been fully defined. Using a series of chimeric Fc-receptor fusion proteins between the human Fas receptor and TNFR I, each cysteine-rich domain of Fas was found to be required for interaction with the Fas ligand. Interestingly, TNFR I CRD1 could partially substitute for the Fas CRD1. The importance of this domain was underscored by the analysis of a Fas extracellular mutation (C66R), which resulted in a complete loss of ligand binding. This mutation was cloned from a human patient suffering from Canale-Smith syndrome, which is characterized by autoimmunity resembling that observed in the lpr and lprcg mice. The localization of essential ligand binding domains in the Fas receptor correlated exactly with the ability of the Fas receptor fusion proteins to prevent cell death mediated by the Fas ligand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Hospital for Special Surgery, Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Orlinick
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaishnaw
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Elkon
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Chao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D003545:Cysteine / Q000737:chemistry*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D003545:Cysteine