Chemokines structural aspects

From what is currently known about various aspects of chemokine structural biology, several types of strategies can be envisioned for interfering with chemokine function. The most widespread approach involves... 

Structural Aspects of Chemokines and their Interactions with Receptors and Clycosaminoglycans... 

Another remarkable aspect of this protein is its ability to bind many different chemokines across all four families with nanomolar affinities (van Berkel et al, 2000). While no common chemokine sequence motifs have been identified thus far, the promiscuity of M3 has been partly attributed to structural plasticity as a consequence of its oligomeric framework, which can undergo structural rearrangements, and the use of flexible loops as primary contact regions. Future studies of additional M3 chemokine complexes will undoubtedly provide further insight into the brilliant design of this highly evolved viral stealth weapon. 

This chapter concentrates on the structure of chemokines and their receptors and how these aspects may be related to their biology. Understanding the relationship between the structure and function of chemokines has lead to ideas of how chemokines can be modified to produce analogs that are useful for modifying disease, in animal models and perhaps in man in the future. 

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