Getting knotted: a model for the structure and activation of Spätzle

K Mizuguchi, JS Parker, TL Blundell, NJ Gay - Trends in biochemical …, 1998 - cell.com
K Mizuguchi, JS Parker, TL Blundell, NJ Gay
Trends in biochemical sciences, 1998cell.com
Sequence analyses show that Spätzle, the Drosophila melanogaster Toll-receptor ligand,
shows striking similarity to nerve growth factor and coagulogen. Comparative modelling
suggests that Spätzle adopts a cystine-knot fold and forms a dimer that contains a single,
intermolecular disulphide bridge. Proteolytically cleaved Spätzle could therefore dimerize
and activate the Toll receptor by inducing receptor dimerization.
Abstract
Sequence analyses show that Spätzle, the Drosophila melanogaster Toll-receptor ligand, shows striking similarity to nerve growth factor and coagulogen. Comparative modelling suggests that Spätzle adopts a cystine-knot fold and forms a dimer that contains a single, intermolecular disulphide bridge. Proteolytically cleaved Spätzle could therefore dimerize and activate the Toll receptor by inducing receptor dimerization.
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