title: Structure-function relationships of pheromones of the ciliate Euplotes raikovi with mammalian growth factors: cross-reactivity between Er-1 and interleukin-2 systems.
abstract: Diffusible protein signals of the ciliate Euplotes raikovi, denoted as pheromones, have functionally been linked with prototypic growth factors of animal cells by the demonstration that they not only induce a temporary cell union in mating pairs, by acting in a paracrine-like fashion, but can also bind to cells in autocrine fashion and promote their vegetative (mitotic) proliferation. It is now shown that pheromone Er-1 is capable of binding to the alpha and beta chains of the multimeric IL-2 receptor on mammalian cells and that IL-2 can, in turn, bind to the putative cell receptor of this pheromone. Similarities in the IL-2 and Er-1 structures support these findings and raise controversial implications with regard to their evolutionary significance.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia Molecolare, Cellulare e Animale, University of Camerino, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vallesi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giuli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghiara
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scapigliati
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luporini
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D003429:Cross Reactions; D016812:Euplotes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010675:Pheromones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010675:Pheromones; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; C057783:mating pheromone Er-1, Euplotes raikovi