ML domain explained

The MD-2-related lipid-recognition (ML) domain is implicated in lipid recognition, particularly in the recognition of pathogen related products. It has an immunoglobulin-like beta-sandwich fold similar to that of immunoglobulin E-set domains. This domain is present in the following proteins:

• Epididymal secretory protein E1 (also known as Niemann-Pick C2 protein), which is known to bind cholesterol. Niemann-Pick disease type C2 is a fatal hereditary disease characterised by accumulation of low-density lipoprotein-derived cholesterol in lysosomes.^[1]
• House dust mite allergen proteins such as Der f 2 from Dermatophagoides farinae and Der p 2 from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.^[2]

Human proteins containing this domain

LY86

LY96; MMD-1;

Notes and References

1. Lobel P, Stock AM, Friedland N, Liou HL . Structure of a cholesterol-binding protein deficient in Niemann-Pick type C2 disease . Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. . 100 . 5 . 2512–2517. 2003 . 12591954 . 10.1073/pnas.0437840100 . 151372. 2003PNAS..100.2512F . free .
2. Kristensen O, Kastrup JS, Skov LK, Gajhede M, Larsen JN, Johannessen BR, Bolwig C, Spangfort M, Lund K . Structure of the house dust mite allergen Der f 2: implications for function and molecular basis of IgE cross-reactivity . FEBS Lett. . 579 . 5 . 1208–12 . 2005 . 15710415. 10.1016/j.febslet.2004.11.115. 30079878 . free .