The structure of IL2 bound to the three chains of the IL2 receptor and how signaling occurs

Abstract

The interleukin-2 molecule and receptor were the first of the interleukins to be discovered and characterized at the molecular level. Now after 20 years of effort, two groups have succeeded in determining the structure of IL2 bound to the external domains of the three receptor chains in a quaternary complex. What do we know now that we did not know before this structural information was available, and how do these new data help us to develop new therapies? © 2006 Smith; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.