2003/05/13 by Matthias Eberl, Martin Hintz, Armin Reichenberg +3 · 2 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics · #Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis #Pharmacological Effects of Natural Compounds #Natural product bioactivities and synthesis
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/s0014-5793(03)00483-6
openalex publication_date 2003/05/13 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
Human Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cells play a crucial role in the immune response to microbial pathogens, yet their unconventional reactivity towards non-peptide antigens has been enigmatic until recently. The break-through in identification of the specific activator was only possible due to recent success in a seemingly remote field: the elucidation of the reaction steps of the newly discovered 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis that is utilised by many pathogenic bacteria. Unexpectedly, the intermediate of the MEP pathway, (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl-pyrophosphate) (HMB-PP), turned out to be by far the most potent Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cell activator known, with an EC(50) of 0.1 nM.