Toll-like receptor 2 is activated by triacylated lipoproteins, but structural and functional studies now show that Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipoprotein LprG is a TLR2 agonist even when it is non-acylated. LprG contains a hydrophobic pocket to bind triacylated glycolipids and delivers them to TLR2, perhaps via CD14. In addition, LprG may serve as a glycolipid chaperone in cell wall assembly by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Michael G Drage
- Han-Chun Tsai
- Clifford V Harding