Ancient news: HMGBs are universal sentinels.
Yanai et al. (2009, Nature 462, 99-103) have shown that high mobility group boxs (HMGBs) are universal sensors of viral nucleic acids, and thus of cell infection. This appears to be an evolutionary ancient mechanism of virus detection, and possibly might be a facet of a more general propensity of HMGBs to act as integrators of signals that pertain to peace and stress, life and death.
Bianchi
Marco E
ME
Chromatin Dynamics Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, San Raffaele University and Scientific Institute, via Olgettina, 58, 20132 Milan, Italy. bianchi.marco@hsr.it
Celona
Barbara
B
D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D024002:HMGB Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000276:immunology; D012313:RNA / Q000276:immunology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology
D024002:HMGB Proteins; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA