Researchers have determined the structure of a protein that helps guide blood-forming stem cells, or hematopoetic stem cells. The protein is also one of the main receptors used by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to get inside blood cells.
The findings are described in the journal Science.
The structure offers a detailed view of how the cell surface receptor, called CXCR4, interacts with molecules outside the cell. The results have implications for developing new drugs for hematopoetic stem cell transplantation, a therapeutic path to treat cancer and immune disorders, as well as for treating HIV infection.
“The structures open up entire new areas for understanding fundamental principles in chemokine GPCR signaling,” said Scripps Research Professor Raymond C. Stevens, who is senior author of the collaborative study.