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.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Blood Proteins / genetics
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Drosophila Proteins*
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Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
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Drosophila melanogaster / metabolism
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Insect Proteins / chemistry*
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Insect Proteins / genetics
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Insect Proteins / metabolism*
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Models, Molecular
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nerve Growth Factors / genetics
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Protein Conformation
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
Substances
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Blood Proteins
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Drosophila Proteins
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Insect Proteins
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Nerve Growth Factors
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coagulogen
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spz protein, Drosophila