To understand the structure-function relationship in the human interle
ukin-6 (IL-6) system, comparative studies were performed on the basis
of NMR data obtained using the wild-type IL-6 and six mutants. In each
of the six mutants, either Leu152, Leu159, Leu166, Leu168, Leu175, or
Leu182, which exist in the C-terminal receptor-binding region, was su
bstituted with Val. The resonance assignments of Val, Ile, Leu, and Ph
e residues were made by using specific double-labeling and site-specif
ic mutagenesis strategies. On the basis of chemical shift and NOE data
collected for six IL-6 mutants and those for the wild-type IL-6, we a
nalyzed the structural changes induced by the substitution of each of
the six Leu residues. The NMR data showed that substitution of Leu182
with Val (L182V) induced no structural change in IL-6, suggesting that
Leu182 is located on the surface of the IL-6 molecule. A significant
decrease in receptor-binding activity was observed in the L182V mutant
. It was concluded that the side chain of Leu182 is directly involved
in receptor binding. Substitution of Leu175 with Val (L175V) was shown
to induce a significant structural change in IL-6. The NMR data are d
iscussed on the basis of the location of four helix elements and an up
-up-down-down helix topology of the predicted structure of IL-6 [Bazan
, J. F. (1991) Neuron 7, 197-208]. It is possible that helix D bent mo
re sharply toward helix B in the L175V mutant than in the wild-type IL
-6 to maintain a closely packed and solvent-inaccessible core formed i
n the mutated region. It is suggested that the kink of helix D is rela
ted to the decrease in receptor-binding activity in the L175V mutant.
On the basis of the observed NOE network, the folding topology of IL-6
was analyzed. A comparison of the folding topology of IL-6 with that
of human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor determined by X-ray cry
stallography [Hill, C. P., Osslund, T. D., & Eisenberg, D. (1993) Proc
. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90, 5167-5171] indicated that IL-6 has a sig
nificant similarity of folding topology to that of human granulocyte c
olony-stimulating factor.