What the Myddosome structure tells us about the initiation of innate immunity

Signaling by the toll-like receptor (TLR) and interleukin-1 receptor superfamily requires the adapter protein myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88). The recent determination of the structure of the so-called Myddosome provides us with new insights into the structural basis for innate immune signaling. Other information on the biochemistry and genetics of MyD88 and other adapters, such as MyDD adapter-like and TRIF-related adapter molecule, allows us to describe in some detail the signaling process activated by TLRs and provides new insights into the role these important proteins play in innate immunity.