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Significance The gene interleukin-12 receptor β1 ( IL12RB1 ) regulates susceptibility to several human diseases, including mycobacterial disease (e.g., tuberculosis). Here, we demonstrate that many of the mRNAs transcribed from IL12RB1 in primary immune cells contain RNA-DNA differences (RDDs). RDDs are nucleotide differences between RNA and its encoding DNA and are introduced posttranscriptionally; in the case of IL12RB1 , RDDs are concentrated in cytokine-binding regions that are important for IL12RB1 function. This observation is significant, as it is the first demonstration to our knowledge that a mechanism of sequence diversification exists for a human cytokine receptor. Given IL12RB1 ’s importance to mycobacterial disease resistance, our data raise the intriguing possibility that individual differences in IL12RB1 RDD introduction contribute to differences in mycobacterial disease susceptibility.

gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors are the major sites of fast synaptic inhibition in the brain. They are constructed from four subunit classes with multiple members: alpha (1-6), beta (1-4), gamma (1-4), and delta (1). The contribution of subunit diversity in determining receptor subcellular targeting was examined in polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Significant detection of cell surface homomeric receptor expression by a combination of both immunological and electrophysiological methodologies was only found for the beta 3 subunit. Expression of alpha/beta binary combinations resulted in a nonpolarized distribution for alpha 1 beta 1 complexes, but specific basolateral targeting of both alpha 1 beta 2 and alpha 1 beta 3 complexes. The polarized distribution of these alpha/beta complexes was unaffected by the presence of the gamma 2S subunit. Interestingly, delivery of receptors containing the beta 3 subunit to the basolateral domain occurs via the apical surface. These results show that beta subunits can selectively target GABAA receptors to distinct cellular locations. Changes in the spatial and temporal expression of beta-subunit isoforms may therefore provide a mechanism for relocating GABAA receptor function between distinct neuronal domains. Given the critical role of these receptors in mediating synaptic inhibition, the contribution of different beta subunits in GABAA receptor function, may have implications in neuronal development and for receptor localization/clustering.

A detailed structure-function analysis of human interleukin 5 (hIL5) has been performed. The hIL5 receptor is composed of two different polypeptide chains, the alpha and beta subunits. The alpha subunit alone is sufficient for ligand binding, but association with the beta subunit leads to a 2- to 3-fold increase in binding affinity. The beta chain is shared with the receptors for IL3 and granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor--hence the descriptor beta C (C for common). All hIL5 mutants were analyzed in a solid-phase binding assay for hIL5R alpha interaction and in a proliferation assay using IL5-dependent cell lines for receptor-complex activation. Most residues affecting binding to the receptor alpha subunit were clustered in a loop connecting beta-strand 1 and helix B (mutants H38A, K39A, and H41A), in beta-strand 2 (E89A and R91A; weaker effect for E90A) and close to the C terminus (T109A, E110A, W111S, and I112A). Mutations at one position, E13 (Glu13), caused a reduced activation of the hIL5 receptor complex. In the case of E13Q, only 0.05% bioactivity was detected on a hIL5-responsive subclone of the mouse promyelocytic cell line FDC-P1. Moreover, on hIL5-responsive TF1 cells, the same mutant was completely inactive and proved to have antagonistic properties. Interactions of this mutant with both receptor subunits were nevertheless indistinguishable from those of nonmutated hIL5 by crosslinking and Scatchard plot analysis of transfected COS-1 cells.

The interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor (IL-2R) is a multisubunit receptor that includes three major IL-2 binding subunits, the IL-2R alpha, beta, and gamma chains. We have detected and analyzed cooperative interactions between the IL-2R alpha and beta chains (IL-2R alpha and IL-2R beta, respectively) in COS cells transfected with cDNAs encoding the IL-2R alpha, the IL-2R beta, or both cDNAs. We demonstrated that IL-2 F42A, an analog that fails to bind to the isolated IL-2R alpha subunit and would be predicted by the hierarchical affinity-conversion model to have impaired binding to cells expressing both chains, instead readily binds to the IL-2R alpha/beta heterodimer in COS cells. Furthermore, this binding is abolished by the antibody HIEI that separates the two IL-2R subunits. The monoclonal antibodies anti-Tac and Mik-beta 1 directed at the IL-2-binding sites on IL-2R alpha and IL-2R beta, respectively, block ligand binding to the heterodimer. This binding pattern is inconsistent with the strict hierarchical affinity-conversion model that mandates an initial binding of IL-2 to IL-2R alpha followed by binding of the IL-2/IL-2R alpha complex to IL-2R beta. Instead, our results support an alternative model of preformed complexes of IL-2R beta with other IL-2R subunits. In this alternative model, IL-2R alpha and -beta exist in part as preformed complexes in which the affinity of IL-2R beta for IL-2 is altered by the proximity of IL-2R alpha, through mechanisms that do not require the prior binding of IL-2 to IL-2R alpha.

Interleukin (IL)-3 stimulates hemopoiesis in vitro. However, IL-3 is not normally found in bone marrow, raising doubts as to the in vivo role of IL-3. We have found that human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) express functional high-affinity receptors for IL-3 after stimulation with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-1 beta, or lipopolysaccharide, and that this receptor is involved in inflammatory phenomena. TNF-alpha caused time- and dose-dependent up-regulation of mRNA for the IL-3 receptor alpha and beta chains, with maximal effects occurring 16-36 h after stimulation with TNF-alpha at 100 units/ml. Induction of mRNA correlated with protein expression on the cell surface as judged by monoclonal antibody staining and by the ability of HUVEC to specifically bind 125I-labeled IL-3. Scatchard analysis under optimal conditions of TNF-alpha stimulation revealed approximately 1500 IL-3 receptors per cell, which were of a high-affinity class (Kd = 500 pM) only. In contrast to a previous report, receptors for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor could not be detected. IL-3 binding to TNF-alpha-activated HUVEC enhanced IL-8 production, E-selection expression, and neutrophil transmigration. The selective induction of a functional IL-3 receptor on endothelial cells suggests that, beyond hemopoiesis, IL-3 may have an important role in chronic inflammation and in allergic diseases.

The receptor for human granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGMR) is composed of two subunits, alpha and beta, which are both required for high-affinity binding of the ligand. To examine the transforming potential of hGMR, we have transfected cDNAs encoding the receptor alpha and beta subunits into NIH 3T3 cells, which normally do not express GMRs. Introduction of the receptor subunits into these cells resulted in focal transformation, which was dependent on the presence of human granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (hGM-CSF) in the culture medium. No transformation was observed when hGM-CSF was replaced with other growth factors such as human epidermal growth factor or human interleukin 3 or when cells were transfected with the alpha or beta subunit alone. Individual conditional transformants isolated after transfection expressed functional hGMRs, were susceptible to transformation by picomolar levels of the ligand, and were capable of anchorage-independent growth in soft agar in the presence but not in the absence of hGM-CSF. Biochemical analysis showed that treatment of these cells with hGM-CSF caused a rapid phosphorylation of the beta subunit and other cellular proteins on tyrosine residues, recapitulating some of the events that take place during GM-CSF signaling in myeloid cells. We conclude that coexpression of the alpha and beta subunits of hGMR in established murine fibroblasts is sufficient to reconstitute a functional receptor, which is capable of causing ligand-dependent transformation. The oncogenic potential of hGMR lends support to the hypothesis that its deregulated or abnormal expression may play a role in leukemogenesis.

The physiological significance of multiple G-protein-coupled receptor subtypes, such as the beta-adrenergic receptors (beta ARs), remains obscure, since in many cases several subtypes activate the same effector and utilize the same physiological agonists. We inspected the deduced amino acid sequences of the beta AR subtypes for variations in the determinants for agonist regulation as a potential basis for subtype differentiation. Whereas the beta 2AR has a C terminus containing 11 serine and threonine residues representing potential sites for beta AR kinase phosphorylation, which mediates rapid agonist-promoted desensitization, only 3 serines are present in the comparable region of the beta 3AR, and they are in a nonfavorable context. The beta 3AR also lacks sequence homology in regions which are important for agonist-mediated sequestration and down-regulation of the beta 2AR, although such determinants are less well defined. We therefore tested the idea that the agonist-induced regulatory properties of the two receptors might differ by expressing both subtypes in CHW cells and exposing them to the agonist isoproterenol. The beta 3AR did not display short-term agonist-promoted functional desensitization or sequestration, or long-term down-regulation. To assign a structural basis for these subtype-specific differences in agonist regulation, we constructed a chimeric beta 3/beta 2AR which comprised the beta 3AR up to proline-365 of the cytoplasmic tail and the C terminus of the beta 2AR. When cells expressing this chimeric beta 3/beta 2AR were exposed to isoproterenol, functional desensitization was observed. Whole-cell phosphorylation studies showed that the beta 2AR displayed agonist-dependent phosphorylation, but no such phosphorylation could be demonstrated with the beta 3AR, even when beta AR kinase was overexpressed. In contrast, the chimeric beta 3/beta 2AR did display agonist-dependent phosphorylation, consistent with its functional desensitization. In addition to conferring functional desensitization and phosphorylation to the beta 3AR, the C-terminal tail of the beta 2AR also conferred agonist-promoted sequestration and long-term receptor down-regulation.

Activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters is known to accelerate the processing and secretion of the beta/A4 amyloid protein precursor. We have now examined various first messengers that increase protein kinase C activity of target cells for their ability to affect beta/A4 amyloid protein precursor metabolism. Acetylcholine and interleukin 1, which are altered in Alzheimer disease, were shown to increase processing of the beta/A4 amyloid protein precursor via the secretory cleavage pathway. Cholinergic agonists stimulated secretion in human glioma and neuroblastoma cells as well as in PC12 cells transfected with the M1 receptor, while interleukin 1 stimulated secretion in human endothelial and glioma cells.

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) plays a critical role in the growth and differentiation of lymphoid cells. The IL-2 signal is delivered intracellularly by the IL-2 receptor beta chain (IL-2R beta); however, the mechanism by which the signal reaches the nucleus remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate the rapid activation of c-fos protooncogene transcription by IL-2 and provide evidence that the serum-responsive element (SRE) within the c-fos promoter is responsible for the activation in a murine pro-B-cell line, BAF-B03, expressing the human IL-2R beta cDNA. Interestingly, the same SRE is also responsible for c-fos gene activation by interleukin 3 or erythropoietin. Further, we show that the activation of c-fos by IL-2 requires defined cytoplasmic regions of IL-2R beta--i.e., the "serine-rich" region, which is known to be essential for growth-signal transduction in BAF-B03 cells, and the "acidic region," which is located more distal to the cell membrane. These results indicate the functional importance of the two distinct regions within the IL-2R beta cytoplasmic domain in IL-2-induced c-fos gene activation and point to a potential role of the acidic region in IL-2 signal transduction that could not be adequately assessed in a previous study.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) signal is transduced through gp130 that associates with a complex of IL-6 and IL-6 receptor. Truncations or amino acid substitutions offe introduced in the cytoplasmic region of human gp130, and the mutant cDNAs were transfected into murine interleukin 3-dependent cells to determine amino acid residues critical for generating the IL-6-mediated growth signal. In the 277-amino acid cytoplasmic region of gp130, a 61-amino acid region proximal to the transmembrane domain was sufficient for generating the growth signal. In this region, two short segments were significantly homologous with other cytokine-receptor family members. One segment is conserved in almost all members of the family, and the other is found especially in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor, interleukin 2 receptor beta chain, erythropoietin receptor, KH97 (a granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor-associated molecule), and interleukin 3 receptor. gp130 molecules with mutations in either of these two segments could not transduce growth signal. Loss of signal-transducing ability of gp130 with such a mutation coincided with disappearance of IL-6-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of gp130.

Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) is a protein that binds to the IL-1 receptor and blocks the binding of both IL-1 alpha and -beta without inducing a signal of its own. Human IL-1ra has some sequence identity to human IL-1 beta, but the evolutionary relationship between these proteins has been unclear. We show that the genes for human, mouse, and rat IL-1ra are similar to the genes for IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in intron-exon organization, indicating that gene duplication events were important in the creation of this gene family. Furthermore, an analysis of sequence comparisons and mutation rates for IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-1ra suggests that the duplication giving rise to the IL-1ra gene was an early event in the evolution of the gene family. Comparisons between the mature sequences for IL-1ra, IL-1 alpha, and IL-1 beta suggest that IL-1ra has a beta-stranded structure like to IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta, consistent with the three proteins being related. The N-terminal sequences of IL-1ra appear to be derived from a region of the genome different than those of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta, thus explaining their different modes of biosynthesis and suggesting an explanation for their different biological activities.

A cDNA encoding a receptor antagonist of interleukin 1 (IL-1ra), secreted from human monocytes, has recently been isolated and sequenced [Eisenberg, S. P., Evans, R. J., Arend, W. P., Verderber, E., Brewer, M. T., Hannum, C. H. & Thompson, R. C. (1990) Nature (London) 343, 341-346]. We have identified another version of this IL-1ra, which is predominantly expressed in epithelial cells. This IL-1ra lacks a leader sequence and, thus, is probably intracellular. Both proteins are derived from the same gene through use of an alternative transcriptional start site and internal splice-acceptor site. Expression of intracellular IL-1ra cDNA in COS cells demonstrated that the intracellular product specifically inhibited exogenous interleukin 1-dependent responses. Keratinocytes were shown to contain significant amounts of nonsecreted IL-1ra protein. Constitutive expression of the intracellular IL-1ra may be an intracellular defensive mechanism in exposed epithelial cells and/or may serve to regulate autocrine interleukin 1-mediated pathways of differentiation.

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) is a potent growth factor for T lymphocytes, playing a crucial role in the immune response. In view of the considerable evidence that the immunoregulatory cytokines (or lymphokines) also play a role in the growth and differentiation of cells in the central nervous system (CNS), we examined the operation of the IL-2 system in a cell line of CNS origin by expressing a cDNA encoding the beta chain of the human IL-2 receptor (IL-2R beta, a 75-kDa protein). When the cDNA was expressed in a human oligodendroglioma cell line, ONS-21, the IL-2R beta bound IL-2 with an affinity similar to that in lymphoid cells (Kd, approximately 2 nM). Furthermore, cell proliferation ([3H]thymidine incorporation) was stimulated by IL-2. These results demonstrate that the same cytokine receptor is functional in cells of the immune system and CNS and point to a molecular mechanism that is similar for growth-signal transduction between lymphoid and neural cells but that may be different in other cells, such as fibroblasts.

cDNAs for another beta subunit of the integrin family were isolated with the aid of polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. The combined cDNA sequence is 3110 base pairs (bp) in size and has one long open reading frame of 2388 bp. The deduced amino acid sequence is similar to those of other integrin beta subunits but does not correspond to beta 1, beta 2, beta 3, or beta 4 subunits. This beta subunit is divided by a membrane-spanning domain into a large extracellular domain at the N-terminal side and a small intracellular domain at the C-terminal side. The extracellular domain has a cysteine-rich region that contains four repeats of 8-cysteine motifs. All 56 cysteine residues found in the extracellular domains of other mature beta subunits are present in this beta subunit. The beta subunit reported here has particularly high homology with the beta 3 subunit. The mRNA for the molecule is approximately 3.5 kbp in size and is expressed in various cell types. Other researchers have recently reported additional beta subunits that associate with the vitronectin receptor alpha subunit. The deduced amino acid sequence of this molecule contains the N-terminal partial amino acid sequence of one of these beta subunits, beta x. The beta subunit described herein seems to be identical to the beta x subunit and to function as the beta subunit of a vitronectin receptor.

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) binds to and stimulates activated T cells through high-affinity IL-2 receptors (IL-2Rs). Such receptors represent a complex consisting of at least two proteins, the 55-kDa IL-2R alpha chain and the 70-kDa IL-2R beta chain. The low-affinity, IL-2R alpha chain cannot by itself transduce a mitogenic signal, whereas IL-2 stimulates resting lymphocytes through the intermediate-affinity, IL-2R beta receptor. We report here identification of the genomic locus for IL-2R beta. The exons are contained on four EcoRI fragments of 1.1, 9.2, 7.2, and 13.7 kilobases. The 1.1-kilobase EcoRI fragment lies at the 5'-most end of the genomic locus and contains promoter sequences. The promoter contains no TATA box-like elements but does contain the d(GT)n class of middle repetitive elements, which may play an interesting regulatory role. The IL-2R beta gene is localized to chromosome 22q11.2-q12, a region that is the locus for several lymphoid neoplasias.

The functional, high-affinity interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) consists of at least two receptor components, IL-2R alpha (p55) and IL-2R beta (p70-75). The cDNA encoding the murine IL-2R beta has been isolated by using the previously cloned cDNA for human IL-2R beta as a probe. Analysis of the cDNA revealed that the murine IL-2R beta shows a marked homology with the human IL-2R beta and that it is also structurally related to other cytokine receptors such as erythropoietin receptor. The cDNA-directed murine IL-2R beta formed high-affinity IL-2R in conjunction with the endogenous IL-2R alpha in a murine pro-B-cell line and could transduce IL-2-induced growth signal. In mouse lymphoma line EL-4, the IL-2R beta gene was found to be rearranged by the insertion of the long terminal repeat sequence of an intracisternal A particle, giving rise to constitutive expression of the IL-2R beta mRNA.

125I-Labeled human choriogonadotropin (125I-hCG) bound to rat ovarian receptor was solubilized in Triton X-100. By using increasing concentrations of nine different antisera specific for the individual subunits of human choriogonadotropin (hCG), free 125I-hCG or 125I-hCG-receptor complex was precipitated by double-antibody technique. The ability of any antiserum to bind to the hormone-specific beta subunit was not affected by hCG binding to receptor, suggesting that this subunit is not directly involved with the receptor in the final state of the hormone-receptor complex. In contrast, every antiserum specific for the alpha subunit was dramatically inhibited in binding to the solubilized 125I-hCG-receptor complex. These results suggest that the alpha subunit directly interacts with the receptor, thereby masking immunoreactive sites normally available on the free hormone. Because a number of reports describe binding activity of high concentrations of immunopurified beta subunits of hCG, we propose a two-step model for the binding of hCG to receptor and postulate separate and distinct roles for the subunits. We propose that the binding of hCG to the receptor involves a specific low-affinity initial interaction of the beta subunit with the receptor that activates a second site for the high-affinity binding of alpha subunit and stabilization of the hormone-receptor complex.

The human high-affinity receptor for interleukin 2 (IL-2) has been proposed as being a membrane complex composed of at least two distinct polypeptide chains: p55 (alpha chain), recognized by the anti-Tac monoclonal antibody (mAb), and p75 (beta chain), both of which are capable of binding IL-2. Whereas the alpha chain itself has been shown to be nonfunctional, the beta chain appears to be pivotal in the IL-2 signal transduction, although the beta chain is otherwise poorly characterized. Three beta chain-specific mAbs, designated Mik-beta 1, -beta 2, and -beta 3, were developed. Mik-beta 1 and -beta 2 completely inhibited the IL-2 binding to the beta chain, whereas Mik-beta 3 immunoprecipitated the beta chain crosslinked with 125I-labeled IL-2. The beta chain immunoprecipitated by these mAbs was revealed to have a Mr of 68,000-72,000. High-affinity IL-2 binding was completely abolished by Mik-beta 1. Although IL-2-dependent T-cell growth at high IL-2 concentrations was not inhibited by the anti-Tac, it was almost completely inhibited by Mik-beta 1 in the presence of the anti-Tac. These results clearly indicate that the beta chain is an indispensable component to the high-affinity IL-2 receptor and is responsible for the IL-2 signal transduction. The beta chain was found to be constitutively expressed without the alpha chain on the surface of peripheral blood Leu-19+ natural killer cells.

Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), one of two different polypeptide hormones with interleukin 1 (IL-1) biological activity, produced by activated human monocytes, is a 17.5-kDa protein. IL-1 beta binds specifically to a variety of cells; the cellular distribution of binding is consistent with reported biological responsiveness. In this report we show that two unrelated, but IL-1-responsive, cell lines, LBRM-33-1A5, a T-lymphoma line, and BALB/3T3, a fibroblast line, bind 125I-labeled IL-1 beta via similar plasma membrane receptor molecules. The T-lymphoma cells possess 238 +/- 16 plasma membrane receptors per cell and bind 125I-labeled IL-1 beta with an affinity of 3.6 +/- 0.9 X 10(9) M-1. The IL-1 receptor has a molecular size of approximately equal to 79.5 kDa, as estimated by affinity cross-linking. The fibroblasts possess 4.8 +/- 0.5 X 10(3) IL-1 receptors per cell and bind 125I-labeled IL-1 beta with an affinity of 2.6 +/- 0.5 X 10(9) M-1. The molecular size of the receptor molecule on the fibroblasts is approximately equal to 78 kDa. Despite the similarity in the characteristics of the ligand-receptor system on the two different cell types, the biological responses of the two cell types to IL-1 beta occur at IL-1 beta concentrations that differ by four orders of magnitude.

Screening of a human placenta lambda gt11 library has led to the isolation of the cDNA for the human beta 1-adrenergic receptor (beta 1AR). Used as the probe was the human genomic clone termed G-21. This clone, which contains an intronless gene for a putative receptor, was previously isolated by virtue of its cross hybridization with the human beta 2-adrenergic receptor (beta 2AR). The 2.4-kilobase cDNA for the human beta 1AR encodes a protein of 477 amino acid residues that is 69% homologous with the avian beta AR but only 54% homologous with the human beta 2AR. This suggests that the avian gene encoding beta AR and the human gene encoding beta 1AR evolved from a common ancestral gene. RNA blot analysis indicates a message of 2.5 kilobases in rat tissues, with a pattern of tissue distribution consistent with beta 1AR binding. This pattern is quite distinct from the pattern obtained when the beta 2AR cDNA is used as a probe. Expression of receptor protein in Xenopus laevis oocytes conveys adenylate cyclase responsiveness to catecholamines with a typical beta 1AR specificity. This contrasts with the typical beta 2 subtype specificity observed when the human beta 2AR cDNA is expressed in this system. Mammalian beta 1AR and beta 2AR are thus products of distinct genes, both of which are apparently related to the putative G-21 receptor.

Two distinct beta subunits of guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins have been identified by cDNA cloning and are referred to as beta 1 and beta 2 subunits. The bovine transducin beta subunit (beta 1) has been cloned previously. We have now isolated and analyzed cDNA clones that encode the beta 2 subunit from bovine adrenal, bovine brain, and a human myeloid leukemia cell line, HL-60. The 340-residue Mr 37,329 beta 2 protein is 90% identical with beta 1 in predicted amino acid sequence, and it is also organized as a series of repetitive homologous segments. The major mRNA that encodes the bovine beta 2 subunit is 1.7 kilobases in length. It is expressed at lower levels than beta 1 subunit mRNA in all tissues examined. The beta 1 and beta 2 messages are expressed in cloned human cell lines. Hybridization of cDNA probes to bovine DNA showed that beta 1 and beta 2 are encoded by separate genes. The amino acid sequences for the bovine and human beta 2 subunit are identical, as are the amino acid sequences for the bovine and human beta 1 subunit. This evolutionary conservation suggests that the two beta subunits have different roles in the signal transduction process.

The lymphokine interleukin 2 is an important immune system regulatory glycopolypeptide. It is produced by antigen- or mitogen-stimulated T lymphocytes and is required for the proliferation or clonal expansion of activated T lymphocytes. In this report, it is demonstrated by RNA transfer blot hybridization that the poly(A)+ RNA population of the human placenta contains a 0.85-kilobase RNA transcript that specifically hybridizes to a human interleukin 2 cDNA probe. By using hybridization histochemistry in situ, it is further shown that interleukin 2 RNA transcripts are localized, primarily, to the syncytial (syncytiotrophoblast) layer of the human placenta. Possible roles for syncytiotrophoblast-produced interleukin 2 are suggested and discussed.

Analogs of interleukin 2 containing defined amino acid substitutions and deletions were assayed for bioactivity and for competitive binding to the high-affinity human interleukin 2 receptor complex and its two component subunits, a 55-kDa subunit (p55 or TAC) and a 70-kDa subunit (p70). Substitution of Asp20 or deletion of Phe124 resulted in inactive analog proteins that were unable to interact with the high-affinity p55/p70 complex or the intermediate-affinity p70 subunit of the interleukin 2 receptor. These analogs, however, retained the capacity to compete for binding to the low-affinity p55 subunit. The presence of the carboxylic acid in the side chain of Asp20 was necessary for effective binding to the p70 protein. In contrast, substitution of Trp121 and Leu17 created analogs that were inactive in the bioassay and all three binding assays. The effects of these mutations on protein conformation were assessed by circular dichroism. These results demonstrate that specific residues in the NH2 and COOH termini of interleukin 2 are crucial for its structure and activity.

A cDNA encoding biologically active human interleukin 7 was isolated by hybridization with the homologous murine clone. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicated that this cDNA was capable of encoding a protein of 177 amino acids with a signal sequence of 25 amino acids and a calculated mass of 17.4 kDa for the mature protein. Recombinant human interleukin 7 stimulated the proliferation of murine pre-B cells and was active on cells harvested from human bone marrow that are enriched for B-lineage progenitor cells. Analysis of RNA by blot hybridization demonstrated the presence of two size classes of interleukin 7 mRNA in human splenic and thymic tissue.