In their Nature Communications publication, Giovanna Musco's research group showed that frHMGB1-CXCL12 is an equimolar fuzzy heterocomplex. HMGB1’s acidic intrinsically disordered region is crucial in the interaction with CXCL12 and with cell surface CXCR4, suggesting potential anti-inflammatory pharmacological strategies.

For reaching these results the group adopted an integrative structural approach using different biophysical techniques (Nuclear magnetic Resonance, microscale thermophoresis, analytical ultracentrifugation, small angle x-ray scattering, computational methods).