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BACKGROUND Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a powerful cytokine that is involved in immune and pro-inflammatory responses. Two TNF receptors that belong to the cysteine-rich low affinity nerve growth factor receptor family (TNF-R1 and TNF-R2) are the sole mediators of TNF signalling. Signalling is thought to occur when a trimer of TNF binds to the extracellular domains of two or three receptor molecules, which permits aggregation and activation of the cytoplasmic domains. The complex is then internalized within an endocytic vesicle, whereupon it dissociates at low pH. Structure of the soluble extracellular domain of the receptor (sTNF-R1) both in the unliganded and TNF-bound state have previously been determined. In both instances, the fourth subdomain of the receptor was found to be partly disordered. In the unliganded state at pH 7.5, the extracellular domain forms two distinct types of dimer, parallel and antiparallel; the antiparallel dimer occludes the TNF-binding. RESULTS We have determined the structure of sTNF-R1 in two crystal forms in high salt at pH 3.7. The orthorhombic crystals diffract to 1.85 ånd the entire polypeptide is well ordered. In contrast, the C-terminal 32 residues are disordered in the hexagonal crystals. In the orthorhombic form, these residues exhibit a topology and disulphide connectivity that differs from the other three cysteine-rich domains in the molecule. In both forms, the interface is considerably more extensive than that used in complex formation with LTalpha. This 'low pH' dimer is different from both of the dimers observed in crystals grown at pH 7.5. CONCLUSIONS The occurrence of the antiparallel dimers in both low pH crystal forms suggest that they are not an artefact of crystal packing. Such dimers may form in the low pH environment of the endosome. Because the dimer contact surface occludes the TNF-binding site, formation of this dimer would dissociate the TNF-receptor complex within the endosome. Three of the four cysteine-rich domains of TNF-R1 are constructed from two distinct structural modules, termed A1 and B2. The fourth subdomain comprises an A1 module followed by an unusual C2 module. Although the orientation of these modules with respect to each other is sensitive to crystal packing, ligand binding, pH and ionic strength, the modules are structurally well conserved between and within the known sTNF-R1 structures.