SummaryThe EphA4 tyrosine kinase cell surface receptor regulates an array of physiological processes and is the only currently known class A Eph receptor that binds both A and B class ephrins with high affinity. We have solved the crystal structure of the EphA4 ligand binding domain alone and in complex with (1) ephrinB2 and (2) ephrinA2. This set of structures shows that EphA4 has significant conformational plasticity in its ligand binding face. In vitro binding data demonstrate that it has a higher affinity for class A than class B ligands. Structural analyses, drawing on previously reported Eph receptor structures, show that EphA4 in isolation and in complex with ephrinA2 resembles other class A Eph receptors but on binding ephrinB2 assumes structural hallmarks of the class B Eph receptors. This interactive plasticity reveals EphA4 as a structural chameleon, able to adopt both A and B class Eph receptor conformations, and thus provides a molecular basis for EphA-type cross-class reactivity.
Transient transfection of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293) enables the rapid and affordable lab-scale production of recombinant proteins. In this chapter protocols for the expression and purification of both secreted and intracellular proteins using transient expression in HEK 293 cells are described.
In this chapter, protocols are described for converting mouse monoclonal antibodies into recombinant Fabs for transient expression in mammalian cells. Variable region genes are cloned by reverse transcription: PCR using either sequence specific or mixed 5' primers that hybridise to the first framework sequence of the mouse light and heavy chains and 3' primers that bind to the heavy- and light-chain constant regions. The amplified sequences are inserted into mammalian cell expression vectors by In-Fusion™ cloning. This method allows vector and amplified DNA sequences to be seamlessly joined in a ligation-independent reaction. Transient co-expression of light-chain and heavy-chain genes in HEK 293T cells enables production of recombinant Fabs for functional and structural studies.
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