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Microbial isoprenoid biosynthesis and human γδ T cell activation
Author(s) -
Eberl Matthias,
Hintz Martin,
Reichenberg Armin,
Kollas Ann-Kristin,
Wiesner Jochen,
Jomaa Hassan
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(03)00483-6
Subject(s) - biosynthesis , activator (genetics) , biochemistry , chemistry , terpenoid , isopentenyl pyrophosphate , bacteria , metabolic pathway , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , metabolism , enzyme , gene , genetics
Human Vγ9/Vδ2 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 Vγ9/Vδ2 T cell activator known, with an EC 50 of 0.1 nM.