EXTRACELLULAR DOMAIN OF TYPE-I RECEPTOR FOR TRANSFORMING GROWTH-FACTOR-BETA - MOLECULAR MODELING USING PROTECTIN (CD59) AS A TEMPLATE

We have observed that the ext acellular domain of T beta RI and protec tin (CD59), an inhibitor of the membrane attack complex of complement, share structural features, a distinct spacing of ten cysteines and a C-terminal 'Cys-box', Based on these common features and the recently determined NMR-structure of protectin, a three-dimensional model for t he extracellular domain of T beta RI was constructed, After energy min imization and molecular dynamics simulation, a structure with four ext ending fingers (pes quattvordigitorum) and two clusters of charged res idues was obtained. This model provides a view to the understanding of interactions between T beta RI, T beta RII and TGF beta during ligand recognition and signal transduction.