title: Mutational analysis of the IFNAR1 binding site on IFNalpha2 reveals the architecture of a weak ligand-receptor binding-site.
abstract: Type I interferons activate cellular responses by forming a ternary complex with two receptor components, IFNAR1 and IFNAR2. While the binding of the IFNAR2 receptor to interferon is of high affinity and well characterized, the binding to IFNAR1 is weak, transient, and poorly understood. Here, we mapped the complete binding region of IFNAR1 on IFNalpha2 by creating a panel of 21 single alanine mutant proteins, and determined their binding affinities. The IFNAR1 binding site on IFNalpha2 maps to the center of the B and C helices, opposite to the binding site for IFNAR2. No hot spots for binding were found in the interface, with individual mutations having an up to fivefold effect on binding. Of the nine residues that affected binding, three adjacent conserved residues, located on the B helix, conferred an increase in the binding affinity to IFNAR1, as well as an increase in the biological activity of the interferon mutant. This suggests that binding of alpha interferons to the IFNAR1 receptor is sub-optimal. A correlation between binding affinity and biological activity was found, albeit not across the whole range of affinities. In WISH cells, but not DAUDI cells, the anti-proliferative activity was markedly affected by fluctuations in the IFNalpha2 affinity towards the IFNAR1 receptor. On the other hand, the antiviral activity of interferons on WISH cells seems to change in accordance to the binding affinity towards IFNAR1 only as long as the binding affinity is not beyond twofold of the wild-type. In accordance, the biological roles of the two interferon-receptor subunits are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Laila C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Roisman
authors.forename: Diego A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jaitin
authors.forename: Darren P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schreiber
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta; D017471:Receptors, Interferon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; C507964:IFNAR1 protein, human; C508033:IFNAR2 protein, human; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D017471:Receptors, Interferon; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D053633:Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta