Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026

A BW Reporter System for Studying Receptor-Ligand Interactions
Published on: January 7, 2019
Nidogen-1 is a novel extracellular ligand for the NKp44 activating receptor
Silvia Gaggero1, Maurizio Bruschi2, Andrea Petretto2
1Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Abstract:
The release of soluble ligands of activating Natural Killer (NK) cell receptors may represent a regulatory mechanism of NK cell function both in physiologic and in pathologic conditions. Here, we identified the extracellular matrix protein Nidogen-1 (NID1) as a ligand of NKp44, an important activating receptor expressed by activated NK cells. When released as soluble molecule, NID1 regulates NK cell function by modulating NKp44-induced IFN-γ production or cytotoxicity. In particular, it also modulates IFN-γ production induced by Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF)-DD following NKp44 engagement. We also show that NID1 may be present at the cell surface. In this form or when bound to a solid support (bNID1), NID1 fails to induce NK cell cytotoxicity or cytokine release. However, analysis by mass spectrometry revealed that exposure to bNID1 can induce in human NK cells relevant changes in the proteomic profiles suggesting an effect on different biological processes.
More Related Videos
06:01Extracellular Protein Microarray Technology for High Throughput Detection of Low Affinity Receptor-Ligand Interactions
Published on: January 7, 2019
12:30Avidity-based Extracellular Interaction Screening AVEXIS for the Scalable Detection of Low-affinity Extracellular Receptor-Ligand Interactions
Published on: March 5, 2012
Related Concept Videos
Ligand Binding and Linkage
G-protein Coupled Receptors
Internal Receptors
Ligand Binding Sites
Protein-ligand interactions are quite specific; even though numerous potential ligands surround a cellular protein at any given time, only a particular ligand can bind to that protein. Moreover, a ligand binds only to a dedicated area on the surface of the protein, known as the...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...