IDENTIFICATION OF A NOVEL DOMAIN IN THE TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR RECEPTOR FAMILY THAT MEDIATES PRE-LIGAND RECEPTOR ASSEMBLY AND FUNCTION

摘要

The present invention provides a polypeptide comprising the isolated amino acid sequence of a pre-ligand assembly domain (PLAD) of a TNF-like receptor. The invention also provides the PLAD for other members of the TNF receptor superfamily. The polypeptides of the present invention can be utilized to inhibit oligomerization of members of the TNF receptor superfamily. These polypeptides can also be utilized to inhibit ligand binding to members of th e TNF receptor superfamily. The present invention also provides a composition comprising an inhibitor of TNF receptor oligomerization. Further provided by this invention are members of the TNF receptor superfamily that are lacking a PLAD.