Structure and Function of an Inflammatory Cytokine, Interleukin-2, Analyzed Using the Bioinformatic Approach

Protein J. 2019 Oct;38(5):525-536. doi: 10.1007/s10930-019-09833-8.

Abstract

The inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-2 (IL-2), is an important regulator of cellular functions. This relatively less studied member of the interleukin protein family is responsible for multiple immuno-modulatory and immuno-stimulatory tasks, like T cell activation, triggering of natural killer cells, inflammation, as well as proliferation and progression of autoimmune diseases and cancers. In this communication we report the temporally variant structural aspects of the IL-2 ligand and its receptor interfaces, based on the available crystal structures. The intended goal of this effort is to generate simulated results that could potentially aid the designs of novel structure based therapeutics.

Keywords: Bioinformatics; Biotechnology; Interleukin 2; Interleukin 2 receptor; Signaling; Structural modeling.

MeSH terms

  • Computational Biology
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Interleukin-2 / chemistry*
  • Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Interaction Maps
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / chemistry
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Interleukin-2
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2