Crystal structures of two FGF-FGFR complexes reveal the determinants of ligand-receptor specificity

  • Alexander N. Plotnikov
  • , Stevan R. Hubbard
  • , Joseph Schlessinger
  • , Moosa Mohammadi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

367 Scopus citations

Abstract

To elucidate the structural determinants governing specificity in fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling, we have determined the crystal structures of FGF1 and FGF2 complexed with the ligand binding domains (immunoglobulin-like domains 2 [D2] and 3 [D3]) of FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) and FGFR2, respectively. Highly conserved FGF-D2 and FGF-linker (between D2-D3) interfaces define a general binding site for all FGF-FGFR complexes. Specificity is achieved through interactions between the N-terminal and central regions of FGFs and two loop regions in D3 that are subject to alternative splicing. These structures provide a molecular basis for FGF1 as a universal FGFR ligand and for modulation of FGF-FGFR specificity through primary sequence variations and alternative splicing.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)413-424
Number of pages12
JournalCell
Volume101
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 12 May 2000
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Crystal structures of two FGF-FGFR complexes reveal the determinants of ligand-receptor specificity'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this