Cytokine conformations: predictive studies.

The amino acid sequences of human and murine haemopoietins have been analysed using algorithms predictive for secondary structure. The results for 19 of these proteins (human and murine interleukins 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and granulocyte, macrophage and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factors as well as human erythropoietin) suggest that they each contain a 4-alpha-helical bundle, ca 25 A long, as a common conformational feature. The most important predictive indicator was considered to be the occurrence of quasi-repeating sequences of seven amino acids of the form (a-b-c-d-e-f-g), with apolar side chains (usually leucine) lying alternately three and four residues apart in the a and d positions. As with other proteins of known secondary structure this periodicity favours the formation of alpha-helical elements, each with an apolar external strip, which interdigitate closely with one another when tested appropriately. Molecular models based on these putative 4-alpha-helical bundles are presented--with special reference to human granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor. The extent to which such models are consistent with experiments designed to delineate receptor binding sites is discussed.