The study of structural biology has long been at the forefront of unraveling the mysteries of immune responses. Recent research has identified enzymes that play a critical role in regulating immune cell function by controlling gene expression and signaling pathways. These enzymes include NOD-like receptors (NLRs), which recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and activate inflammatory responses.
Inflammasomes and Immune Regulation
NLRs form multi-protein complexes called inflammasomes, leading to the production of inflammatory cytokines and inducing pyroptosis through proteolytic cleavage. The aberrant activation of NLRs has been associated with autoimmune diseases, making them targets for drug discovery.