Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Synthesis and Characterization of 1,2-Dithiolane Modified Self-Assembling Peptides
Published on: August 20, 2018
Synthesis of biologically active biotinylated muramyl dipeptides
Catherine Leimkuhler Grimes1, Daniel K Podolsky, Erin K O'Shea
1Harvard University, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
None:
Muramyl dipeptide (MDP) is believed to interact with an innate immune receptor, Nod2. To identify the cellular receptor for MDP, we have synthesized biotinylated MDP isomers and tested the ability of these compounds to activate Nod2 in a cell-based assay. We found that the modification of MDP does not perturb its ability to activate Nod2. These tagged versions of MDP will be useful to identify the cellular receptor of the immunostimulatory molecules.
Related Concept Videos
Peptidoglycan Synthesis
Insulin: Biosynthesis, Chemistry, and Preparation
Damage or functional impairment of β-cells inhibits insulin production, leading to diabetes. Diabetes treatment primarily uses...
