Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39827213›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Structural studies of the IFNλ4 receptor complex using cryoEM enabled by protein engineering.

William S Grubbe, Bixia Zhang, Aileen Kauffman, Fabian Byléhn, Kasia Padoł, Hae-Gwang Jung, Seung Bum Park, Jessica M Priest, Engin Özkan, Juan J de Pablo and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

William S Grubbe *Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Bixia Zhang *Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Aileen KauffmanPritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-0474-7758
Fabian ByléhnPritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9331-6773
Kasia PadołPritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Hae-Gwang JungLiver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Seung Bum ParkLiver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2834-9071
Jessica M PriestDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7511-6284
Engin ÖzkanDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0263-6729
Juan J de PabloPritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3526-516X
T Jake LiangLiver Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3828-702X
Minglei ZhaoDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5832-6060
Juan L MendozaPritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. jlmendoza@uchicago.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6972-7476

Funding

Structural and Functional Studies of Molecular Machines Involved in Chemical Modifications of MacromoleculesR35GM143052 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · PI ZHAO, MINGLEI · 2021 to 2025
$2.1M
Beagle-3: A Shared GPU Cluster for Biomolecular SciencesS10OD028655 · OD · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · PI ROUX, BENOIT · 2020 to 2020
$2.0M
Shedding new light on cytokine signaling through molecular engineering - equipment supplementR35GM147179 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · PI Juan Luis Mendoza · 2022 to 2026
$2.0M
Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, Inc.) 1R35GM147179-01 (JLM)Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, Inc.) 5R35GM143052-03NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM143052NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM147179NIH HHS S10 OD028655
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

IFNλ4 has posed a conundrum in human immunology since its discovery in 2013, with its expression linked to complications with viral clearance. While genetic and cellular studies revealed the detrimental effects of IFNλ4 expression, extensive structural and functional characterization has been limited by the inability to express and purify the protein, complicating explanations of its paradoxical behavior. In this work, we report a method for robust production of IFNλ4. We then use yeast surface display to affinity-mature IL10Rβ and solve the 72 kilodalton structures of IFNλ4 (3.26 Å) and IFNλ3 (3.00 Å) in complex with their receptors IFNλR1 and IL10Rβ using cryogenic electron microscopy. Comparison of the structures highlights differences in receptor engagement and reveals a distinct 12-degree rotation in overall receptor geometry, providing a potential mechanistic explanation for differences in cell signaling, downstream gene induction, and antiviral activities. Further, we perform a structural analysis using molecular modeling and simulation to identify a unique region of IFNλ4 that, when replaced, enables secretion of the protein from cells. These findings provide a structural and functional understanding of the IFNλ4 protein and enable future comprehensive studies towards correcting IFNλ4 dysfunction in large populations of affected patients.

Indexed as

Interleukin-10 Receptor beta SubunitInterleukinsProtein EngineeringReceptors, InterferonCryoelectron MicroscopyHumansInterferon LambdaModels, MolecularProtein BindingProtein ConformationIFNL4 protein, humanIFNLR1 protein, humanInterferon LambdaInterleukin-10 Receptor beta SubunitInterleukinsReceptors, Interferon

Identifiers

PMID39827213
PMCPMC11742915

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.