title: Tackling the legs of mannan-binding lectin.
abstract: The recognition of pathogen surfaces by mannan-binding lectin activates MASP proteases, leading to complement activation. A crystal structure by Gingras et al. (2011) in this issue of Structure now shows how the collagen-like stems of mannan-binding lectin bind MASP-1 through a minimalist set of interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK. e.hohenester@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Erhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hohenester