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Adhesive interactions involving CD44, the cell surface receptor for hyaluronan, underlie fundamental processes such as inflammatory leukocyte homing and tumor metastasis. Regulation of such events is critical and appears to be effected by changes in CD44 N-glycosylation that switch the receptor "on" or "off" under appropriate circumstances. How altered glycosylation influences binding of hyaluronan to the lectin-like Link module in CD44 is unclear, although evidence suggests additional flanking sequences peculiar to CD44 may be involved. Here we show using X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy that these sequences form a lobular extension to the Link module, creating an enlarged HA binding domain and a formerly unidentified protein fold. Moreover, the disposition of key N-glycosylation sites reveals how specific sugar chains could alter both the affinity and avidity of CD44 HA binding. Our results provide the necessary structural framework for understanding the diverse functions of CD44 and developing novel therapeutic strategies.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Mol Cell

Publication Date

27/02/2004

Volume

13

Pages

483 - 496

Keywords

Amino Acid Sequence, Conserved Sequence, Crystallography, X-Ray, Cysteine, Hyaluronan Receptors, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrogen Bonding, Inflammation, Leukocytes, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Models, Molecular, Molecular Sequence Data, Protein Binding, Protein Conformation, Protein Folding, Protein Structure, Secondary, Protein Structure, Tertiary, Sequence Homology, Amino Acid, Solubility