Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are a key part of the innate immune system's defense against bacteria. PGRPs are now shown to act through a conserved secretion stress–sensing two-component system, which leads to membrane depolarization and the release of cytotoxic hydroxyl radicals. Thus, PGRPs exploit an ancient bacterial stress response to elicit cell death, and this pathway may be targeted to produce improved antimicrobial drugs (pages 676–683).
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Michel, T., Reichhart, J.M., Hoffmann, J.A. & Royet, J. Nature 414, 756–759 (2001).
Kohanski, M.A., Dwyer, D.J., Hayete, B., Lawrence, C.A. & Collins, J.J. Cell 130, 797–810 (2007).
Kohanski, M.A., Dwyer, D.J., Wierzbowski, J., Cottarel, G. & Collins, J.J. Cell 135, 679–690 (2008).
Kashyap, D.R. et al. Nat. Med. 17, 676–683 (2011).
Tuomanen, E.I., Austrian, R. & Masure, H.R. N. Engl. J. Med. 332, 1280–1284 (1995).
Lu, X. et al. J. Biol. Chem. 281, 5895–5907 (2006).
Raivio, T.L. & Silhavy, T.J. J. Bacteriol. 179, 7724–7733 (1997).
Sashchenko, L.P. et al. J. Biol. Chem. 279, 2117–2124 (2004).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kietzman, C., Tuomanen, E. PGRPs kill with an ancient weapon. Nat Med 17, 665–666 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0611-665
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0611-665