2bph

Publication Abstract from PubMed

The murine molecule dectin-1 (known as the beta-glucan receptor in humans) is an immune cell surface receptor implicated in the immunological defense against fungal pathogens. Sequence analysis has indicated that the dectin-1 extracellular domain is a C-type lectin-like domain, and functional studies have established that it binds fungal beta-glucans. We report several dectin-1 crystal structures, including a high-resolution structure and a 2.8 angstroms resolution structure in which a short soaked natural beta-glucan is trapped in the crystal lattice. In vitro characterization of dectin-1 in the presence of its natural ligand indicates higher-order complex formation between dectin-1 and beta-glucans. These combined structural and biophysical data considerably extend the current knowledge of dectin-1 structure and function, and suggest potential mechanisms of defense against fungal pathogens.

Structure of the fungal beta-glucan-binding immune receptor dectin-1: implications for function.,Brown J, O'Callaghan CA, Marshall AS, Gilbert RJ, Siebold C, Gordon S, Brown GD, Jones EY Protein Sci. 2007 Jun;16(6):1042-52. Epub 2007 May 1. PMID:17473009^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.