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Variations on ligand–receptor complexes

Nature Structural Biology volume 7, pages 440–442 (2000)Cite this article

The complex between BMP-2, a TGF-β family member, and its high affinity receptor provides new insights into the assembly of receptor complexes for members of the cystine-knot growth factor family. A novel proposal for the interaction between Flt3L and its receptor suggests a general scheme for the interaction of closely related receptor tyrosine kinases with structurally diverse ligands, including certain members of the TGF-β family.

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Figure 1: The ‘growth hormone paradigm’.
Figure 2: A novel proposal for receptor engagement of Flt3L2: models of the receptor complexes for Flt3L (left) and VEGF (right).
Figure 3: Three classes of homodimeric cystine-knot growth factors: TGF-β (left), VEGF (middle) and NGF (right).
Figure 4: Similarities and differences in receptor binding by cystine-knot growth factors: receptor complexes of BMP-2 (left), VEGF (middle), and NGF (right).

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Acknowledgements

We thank M.K. Dreyer and P.A. Karplus for giving us access to their coordinates, and W. Sebald for sharing data prior to publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 3696 Haven Avenue, Suite C, Redwood City, 94063, California, USA

    Christian Wiesmann

  2. the Department of Protein Engineering, Genentech, Inc., 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, 94080, California, USA

    Abraham M. de Vos

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  1. Christian Wiesmann
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  2. Abraham M. de Vos
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Correspondence to Abraham M. de Vos.

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Wiesmann, C., de Vos, A. Variations on ligand–receptor complexes. Nat Struct Mol Biol 7, 440–442 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/75825

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