Dr. Catherine Grimes
University of Delaware
April 6, 2016
11:00am – 12:00pm
C-121
“Chemical Tools for Studying the Activation of the Intracellular Innate Immune Protein Nod2”
Abstract: Chronic inflammatory disorders, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, arise from an inappropriate immune response to bacteria. In order to treat these diseases, we need a better understanding of how the innate immune system senses and responds to bacteria. It has long been known that muramyl dipeptide (MDP), a fragment of bacterial cell wall (peptidoglycan), is able to generate an immune response. Recently, it has been shown that the intracellular, mammalian protein Nod2 is involved in sensing the presence of MDP in the cell, leading to activation of the synthesis of inflammatory molecules. Nod2 is an important protein to human health, as mutations in the gene have shown an increased incidence of Crohn’s disease.