Fig. 5.

Molecular modelling of Fas/FasL trimolecular complex. (a–c) A molecular model of the FasL/Fas complex was generated by a knowledge-based protein modelling method and the known tridimensional structures of lymphotoxin α (TNF-α) and TNF receptor. The computer-mediated structure model predicted the tertiary structure of the complex. Regions coloured red indicate FasL aa 162–169. Regions coloured yellow show aa 206 and aa 218, both of which were reported to be involved in Fas/FasL molecular interaction. FasL aa 162–169 is located on the outermost side of FasL facing towards its receptor, Fas. (d) Schematic representation of Fas/FasL trimolecular complex. FasL aa 162–169 (FasL 1) faces towards the Fas molecule (Fas 3), as opposed to Fas (Fas 2), to which aa 206 and aa 218 of the same FasL molecule (FasL 1) faces.