2X1W

Crystal Structure of VEGF-C in Complex with Domains 2 and 3 of VEGFR2

Summary for 2X1W

• Entry DOI: 10.2210/pdb2x1w/pdb
• Related: 1VR2 1Y6A 1Y6B 1YWN 2X1X
• Descriptor: VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR C, VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR 2, beta-D-mannopyranose-(1-4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose-(1-4)-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose, ... (7 entities in total)
• Functional Keywords: hormone-signaling protein complex, angiogenesis, glycoprotein, host-virus interaction, membrane, receptor, lymphangiogenesis, immunoglobulin domain, developmental protein, transmembrane, phosphoprotein, disulfide bond, mitogen, hormone/signaling protein
• Biological source: HOMO SAPIENS (HUMAN); More
• Total number of polymer chains: 8
• Total formula weight: 153988.60

Authors

Leppanen, V.M.,Prota, A.E.,Jeltsch, M.,Anisimov, A.,Kalkkinen, N.,Strandin, T.,Lankinen, H.,Goldman, A.,Ballmer-Hofer, K.,Alitalo, K. (deposition date: 2010-01-08, release date: 2010-03-09, Last modification date: 2024-10-09)

Primary citation

Leppanen, V.M.,Prota, A.E.,Jeltsch, M.,Anisimov, A.,Kalkkinen, N.,Strandin, T.,Lankinen, H.,Goldman, A.,Ballmer-Hofer, K.,Alitalo, K.
Structural Determinants of Growth Factor Binding and Specificity by Vegf Receptor 2.
Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.USA, 107:2425-, 2010

PubMed Abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) regulate blood and lymph vessel formation through activation of three receptor tyrosine kinases, VEGFR-1, -2, and -3. The extracellular domain of VEGF receptors consists of seven immunoglobulin homology domains, which, upon ligand binding, promote receptor dimerization. Dimerization initiates transmembrane signaling, which activates the intracellular tyrosine kinase domain of the receptor. VEGF-C stimulates lymphangiogenesis and contributes to pathological angiogenesis via VEGFR-3. However, proteolytically processed VEGF-C also stimulates VEGFR-2, the predominant transducer of signals required for physiological and pathological angiogenesis. Here we present the crystal structure of VEGF-C bound to the VEGFR-2 high-affinity-binding site, which consists of immunoglobulin homology domains D2 and D3. This structure reveals a symmetrical 22 complex, in which left-handed twisted receptor domains wrap around the 2-fold axis of VEGF-C. In the VEGFs, receptor specificity is determined by an N-terminal alpha helix and three peptide loops. Our structure shows that two of these loops in VEGF-C bind to VEGFR-2 subdomains D2 and D3, while one interacts primarily with D3. Additionally, the N-terminal helix of VEGF-C interacts with D2, and the groove separating the two VEGF-C monomers binds to the D2/D3 linker. VEGF-C, unlike VEGF-A, does not bind VEGFR-1. We therefore created VEGFR-1/VEGFR-2 chimeric proteins to further study receptor specificity. This biochemical analysis, together with our structural data, defined VEGFR-2 residues critical for the binding of VEGF-A and VEGF-C. Our results provide significant insights into the structural features that determine the high affinity and specificity of VEGF/VEGFR interactions.

PubMed: 20145116
DOI: 10.1073/PNAS.0914318107

Experimental method

X-RAY DIFFRACTION (2.7 Å)