SCF-KIT: Difference between revisions

A point mutation in either <scene name='70/702908/R381_and_e386/1'>Arg381 (green) or Glu386 (magenta)</scene> within D4 can strongly compromise SCF-induced tyrosine [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autophosphorylation autophosphorylation]. The homotypic interactions between membrane-proximal regions of KIT are mediated primarily by the D4-D4 interface, while the D5-D5 interface plays a cooperative secondary role, i.e., the D5-D5 faciliates the exact positioning of two KIT ectodomains at the cell-surface interface. SCF-KIT binding occurs in at least two steps: First, the electrostatic attraction between SCF and D1-D2-D3 will align SCF along the opposing ligand-binding region on KIT. A faster association rate occurs as a result of an electrostatic attraction of SCF due to a steering effect. Interestingly, the main interactions that maintain the D4-D4 interface, i.e. double salt bridges between Arg381 and Glu386 in a neighboring KIT molecule are also mediated by electrostatic interactions. Since the hallmarks of KIT structure, ligand binding and receptor dimerization are conserved in other receptors, it is believed that the mechanism described above for KIT activation is a general mechanism for activation of many receptors.