Interleukin-34: an exciting new twist in the activation of the human Colony Stimulating Factor 1 Receptor (Interleukine-34)

We propose an interdisciplinary research project at the frontline of molecular structural biology to dissect the interaction of a novel cytokine, interleukin-34 (IL-34), with its hematopoietic receptor tyrosine kinase III (RTKIII) receptor, Colony Stimulating Factor-1 Receptor (CSF-1R of c-fms). The proposed research project aims to provide important new insights into the structural, kinetic and thermodynamic determinants that dicate this unusual cytokine-receptor specificty.