Binding Sites on Laminin Receptors as Components for Antibiotics

Abstract

Bacteria use the receptor-adhesion-like interaction between laminin and the laminin receptor in the process of infection. We determined that bacteria do not interact with the receptor-binding site on laminin which could be expected for the bacterial laminin receptor. Rather, binding occurs via the laminin-binding site on the 67-kDa laminin receptor, which has a function similar to the one the bacterial laminin receptor possesses. This finding has implications for the effective use of antimicrobial peptides.