ML Domain involved in innate immunity and lipid metabolism.
SMART ACC:	SM000737
Description:	ML (MD-2-related lipid-recognition) is a novel domain identified in MD-1, MD-2, GM2A, Npc2 and multiple proteins of unknown function in plants, animals and fungi. These single-domain proteins were predicted to form a beta-rich fold containing multiple strands, and to mediate diverse biological functions through interacting with specific lipids.
InterPro ACC:	IPR003172
InterPro abstract:	The MD-2-related lipid-recognition (ML) domain is implicated in lipid recognition, particularly in the recognition of pathogen related products. It has an immunoglobulin-like β-sandwich fold similar to that of E-set Ig domains. This domain is present in proteins from plants, animals and fungi, including the following proteins: Epididymal secretory protein E1 (also known as Niemann-Pick … expand The MD-2-related lipid-recognition (ML) domain is implicated in lipid recognition, particularly in the recognition of pathogen related products. It has an immunoglobulin-like β-sandwich fold similar to that of E-set Ig domains. This domain is present in proteins from plants, animals and fungi, including the following proteins: Epididymal secretory protein E1 (also known as Niemann-Pick C2 protein -Npc2), which is known to bind cholesterol. Niemann-Pick disease type C2 is a fatal hereditary disease characterised by accumulation of low-density lipoprotein-derived cholesterol in lysosomes [ PUBMED:12591954 ]. House-dust mite allergen proteins such as Der f 2 from Dermatophagoides farinae and Der p 2 from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus [ PUBMED:15710415 ]. collapse
Family alignment:	View the Family alignment or the Alignment consensus sequence
There are 2 836 ML domains in 2 744 proteins in SMART's NRDB database.

Taxonomic distribution of proteins containing ML domains

The tree below includes only several representative species and genera. The complete taxonomic breakdown of all proteins containing ML domains can be accessed here. Click the counts or percentage values to display the corresponding proteins.

Predicted cellular role

Cellular role:	Signalling
Binding / catalysis:	Lipid-binding

Relevant references for this domain

Primary literature for the ML domain is listed below. Automatically-derived, secondary literature is also available.

KEGG pathways involving proteins which contain this domain

This information is based on the mapping of SMART genomic protein database to KEGG orthologous groups. Percentages are related to the number of proteins containing a ML domain which could be assigned to a KEGG orthologous group, and not all proteins containing ML domains. Please note that proteins can be included in multiple pathways, ie. the numbers below will not add to 100%.

KEGG pathways

Some of these pathways are included in the interactive Pathways Explorer overview maps. Select an overview map and click the button below to highlight them in iPath.

KEGG orthologous groups

Some of these KOs are included in the interactive Pathways Explorer overview maps. Select an overview map and click the button below to highlight them in iPath.

3D structures in PDB containing this domain

Links to other resources describing this domain

InterPro	IPR003172
Pfam	E1_DerP2_DerF2