We have previously demonstrated that a basic amino acid residue of interleukin (IL)-8, namely Arg-6, is critical for the binding of IL-8 to its receptor. We reasoned that this residue is likely to be poised to directly interact with a counterpart acidic residue on the receptor. To identify this key residue, we systematically mutated to Ala all acidic residues present on the ligand accessible surface of IL-8 receptor type A. Using this strategy, we demonstrate that two residues which are present in extracellular loop 3 of the receptor, namely Glu-275 and Arg-280, are critical for ligand binding. In addition, we show that although Asp-11 is critical for ligand binding, a conservative mutation of Asp-11 to Glu or a substitution of Asp-11 with Lys (the residue found at position 11 in IL-8 receptor type B) does not affect the Kd of the receptor/ligand interaction. These data suggest that Lys-11 recruits a new and favorable interaction with IL-8 (analogous to that of IL-8 receptor type B with IL-8) or that the cavity created by mutating Asp-11 to Ala is particularly deleterious. Finally, we discuss fluorescence-activated cell sorter staining data which support the hypothesis that the N-terminal region and the extracellular loop 3 of the receptor may lie in close proximity of one another and constitute a major binding domain for IL-8.