Structure of the Complex of Human Programmed Death 1, PD-1, and Its Ligand PD-L1.
Zak, K.M., Kitel, R., Przetocka, S., Golik, P., Guzik, K., Musielak, B., Domling, A., Dubin, G., Holak, T.A.(2015) Structure 23: 2341-2348
- PubMed: 26602187 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.str.2015.09.010
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
4ZQK, 5C3T - PubMed Abstract: 
Targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 immunologic checkpoint with monoclonal antibodies has recently provided breakthrough progress in the treatment of melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and other types of cancer. Small-molecule drugs interfering with this pathway are highly awaited, but their development is hindered by insufficient structural information. This study reveals the molecular details of the human PD-1/PD-L1 interaction based on an X-ray structure of the complex. First, it is shown that the ligand binding to human PD-1 is associated with significant plasticity within the receptor. Second, a detailed molecular map of the interaction surface is provided, allowing definition of the regions within both interacting partners that may likely be targeted by small molecules.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Krakow, Poland; Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7a, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.