A new look at cytokine signaling.
Signal transduction is initiated when a cytokine binds to the extracellular domains of its receptors, bringing them together and triggering a complicated sequence of events inside the cell. In this issue, LaPorte et al. (2008) present crystal structures of three signaling complexes of the cytokines interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 with their receptors, showing how events taking place outside the cell may affect the specificity of signal transduction.
Zdanov
Alexander
A
Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory, CCR, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. zdanov@ncifcrf.gov
Wlodawer
Alexander
A
D003460:Crystallization; D016207:Cytokines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008954:Models, Biological; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D053660:Receptors, Interleukin-13 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D016207:Cytokines; D018793:Interleukin-13; D008024:Ligands; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D053660:Receptors, Interleukin-13; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4; D015847:Interleukin-4