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News and Views
Nature 444, 159-160 (9 November 2006) | doi:10.1038/nature05307; Published online 15 October 2006
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Immunology: Exposure of an executioner
Michael Carroll1
Abstract
The complement C3 protein binds to pathogens, singling them out for execution by the immune system. Structural studies show how the chemical group responsible for this binding is exposed on activation.
Some of the oldest molecules involved in defence in the animal kingdom are found in the thioester protein family, which dates back more than 500 million years1. The power of these proteins comes from their thioester chemical group — a highly reactive molecular 'warhead' that, when activated, binds to chemical acceptor groups on many pathogens and marks them out for destruction by immune cells.
- Michael Carroll is at The CBR Institute for Biomedical Research, Harvard Medical School, 800 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Email: carroll@cbr.med.harvard.edu
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