The solution structures of the homologous growth factors hEGF and hTGF-α, have been determined independently from high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data. A model of the insulin-like growth factor structure based on insulin coordinates (Blundell et al. (1978) Proc natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.75, 180–184), has also been refined using molecular dynamics simulations with NMR-determined restraints. Knowledge of these structures, together with known sequences of other homologous proteins and experiments with site-specific residue changes, allows predictions to be made about growth factor residues which might be involved in the receptor–ligand interfaces.

Keywords:
EGF, TGF-α, IGF, NMR, solution structure, site specific mutagenesis, receptor binding
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1990