Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology Commons^™

Nmr Structural Studies Of Endotoxin Receptor Cd14 In Complex With Gram-Negative And Gram-Positive Endotoxin, Seth Andrew Albright

Doctoral Dissertations

Endotoxin recognition by the innate immune receptor CD14 is a critical part of the innate immune system’s early detection and activation of the inflammatory response during microbial invasion. The differential recognition and high affinity binding of endotoxins from gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria is performed by the innate immune receptor CD14. Upon endotoxin binding, CD14 transfers the specific endotoxins to a Toll-like receptor signaling complex, which is responsible for initiating the intracellular signaling cascade. In the presence of overwhelming infection, the effects of CD14 lead to the over-activation of the inflammatory response, which results in the life threatening condition known as …