PMID: 30504845

Authors:

Gandhi AK, Kim WM, Sun ZJ, Huang YH, Bonsor DA, Sundberg EJ, Kondo Y, Wagner G, Kuchroo VK, Petsko G, Blumberg RS

Title:

High resolution X-ray and NMR structural study of human T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing protein-3.

Journal:

Sci Rep. 2018 Nov 30;8(1):17512. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-35754-0.

Abstract:

T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing protein-3 (TIM-3) is an important immune regulator. Here, we describe a novel high resolution (1.7 A) crystal structure of the human (h)TIM-3 N-terminal variable immunoglobulin (IgV) domain with bound calcium (Ca(++)) that was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Significant conformational differences were observed in the B-C, C'-C'' and C'-D loops of hTIM-3 compared to mouse (m)TIM-3, hTIM-1 and hTIM-4. Further, the conformation of the C-C' loop of hTIM-3 was notably different from hTIM-4. Consistent with the known metal ion-dependent binding of phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) to mTIM-3 and mTIM-4, the NMR spectral analysis and crystal structure of Ca(++)-bound hTIM-3 revealed that residues in the hTIM-3 F-G loop coordinate binding to Ca(++). In addition, we established a novel biochemical assay to define hTIM-3 functionality as determined by binding to human carcinoembryonic antigen cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1). These studies provide new insights useful for understanding and targeting hTIM-3.