Biomaterial Database

Computational simulations of stem-cell factor/c-kit receptor interaction. 1996

M C Menziani, and F Fanelli, and P G De Benedetti

Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Modena, Italy.

Stem-cell factor (SCF) is a noncovalent homodimeric cytokine that exhibits profound biological function in the early stages of hematopoiesis by binding to a cell surface tyrosine kinase receptor that is encoded by the c-Kit proto-oncogene. The results obtained from a combined implementation of homology-based molecular modeling and computational simulations in the study of species-specific SCF/ c-Kit interactions are reported. The structural models of the human and rat SCF ligands are based on the close structural similarity to the cytokine M-CSF, whose C alpha structure has recently become available. The constant domains of the human Fc fragment are used as a template for the ligand binding domains of the c-Kit receptor. The factors responsible for the stabilization of the SCF quaternary structure and the molecular determinants for ligand recognition and ligand specificity have been identified by assessing the conformational, topographical, and dynamic features of the isolated ligands and of the ligand-receptor complexes.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007141	Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments	Crystallizable fragments composed of the carboxy-terminal halves of both IMMUNOGLOBULIN HEAVY CHAINS linked to each other by disulfide bonds. Fc fragments contain the carboxy-terminal parts of the heavy chain constant regions that are responsible for the effector functions of an immunoglobulin (COMPLEMENT fixation, binding to the cell membrane via FC RECEPTORS, and placental transport). This fragment can be obtained by digestion of immunoglobulins with the proteolytic enzyme PAPAIN.	Fc Fragment,Fc Fragments,Fc Immunoglobulin,Fc Immunoglobulins,Ig Fc Fragments,Immunoglobulin Fc Fragment,Immunoglobulins, Fc,Immunoglobulins, Fc Fragment,Fc Fragment Immunoglobulins,Fc Fragment, Immunoglobulin,Fc Fragments, Ig,Fc Fragments, Immunoglobulin,Fragment Immunoglobulins, Fc,Fragment, Fc,Fragments, Ig Fc,Immunoglobulin, Fc
D008958	Models, Molecular	Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures.	Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D011485	Protein Binding	The process in which substances, either endogenous or exogenous, bind to proteins, peptides, enzymes, protein precursors, or allied compounds. Specific protein-binding measures are often used as assays in diagnostic assessments.	Plasma Protein Binding Capacity,Binding, Protein
D011487	Protein Conformation	The characteristic 3-dimensional shape of a protein, including the secondary, supersecondary (motifs), tertiary (domains) and quaternary structure of the peptide chain. PROTEIN STRUCTURE, QUATERNARY describes the conformation assumed by multimeric proteins (aggregates of more than one polypeptide chain).	Conformation, Protein,Conformations, Protein,Protein Conformations
D011956	Receptors, Cell Surface	Cell surface proteins that bind signalling molecules external to the cell with high affinity and convert this extracellular event into one or more intracellular signals that alter the behavior of the target cell (From Alberts, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2nd ed, pp693-5). Cell surface receptors, unlike enzymes, do not chemically alter their ligands.	Cell Surface Receptor,Cell Surface Receptors,Hormone Receptors, Cell Surface,Receptors, Endogenous Substances,Cell Surface Hormone Receptors,Endogenous Substances Receptors,Receptor, Cell Surface,Surface Receptor, Cell
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006860	Hydrogen Bonding	A low-energy attractive force between hydrogen and another element. It plays a major role in determining the properties of water, proteins, and other compounds.	Hydrogen Bonds,Bond, Hydrogen,Hydrogen Bond
D000090063	Proto-Oncogene Mas	A protein that is encoded by the MAS1 gene. It is a receptor for ANGIOTENSIN 1-7 and acts as an antagonist of ANGIOTENSIN-2 TYPE 1 RECEPTOR.	C-Mas Protein,II-Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Cellular,Mas Protein,Mas1 Protein,Proto-Oncogene Protein Mas,Proto-Oncogene Proteins C-Mas-1,C Mas Protein,C-Mas-1, Proto-Oncogene Proteins,Cellular II-Proto-Oncogene Proteins,II Proto Oncogene Proteins, Cellular,Mas, Proto-Oncogene,Protein Mas, Proto-Oncogene,Protein, C-Mas,Protein, Mas,Protein, Mas1,Proteins, Cellular II-Proto-Oncogene,Proto Oncogene Mas,Proto Oncogene Proteins C Mas 1
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D016415	Sequence Alignment	The arrangement of two or more amino acid or base sequences from an organism or organisms in such a way as to align areas of the sequences sharing common properties. The degree of relatedness or homology between the sequences is predicted computationally or statistically based on weights assigned to the elements aligned between the sequences. This in turn can serve as a potential indicator of the genetic relatedness between the organisms.	Sequence Homology Determination,Determination, Sequence Homology,Alignment, Sequence,Alignments, Sequence,Determinations, Sequence Homology,Sequence Alignments,Sequence Homology Determinations