Curdlan - Dectin-1 Agonist

Beta-1,3-glucan from Alcaligenes faecalis

Curdlan is a high–molecular-weight, linear β-(1→3)-glucan produced as a water-insoluble polysaccharide by the soil Gram-negative bacterium Alcaligenes faecalis var. myxogenes. It is a well-characterized ligand for Dectin-1, the membrane-bound β-glucan receptor expressed on phagocytes [1]. Upon Dectin-1 engagement, curdlan triggers CARD9-dependent activation of NF-κB and MAP kinase pathways, leading to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines [2]. In addition, emerging evidence indicates that curdlan can activate the cytosolic NLRP3 inflammasome, which acts synergistically with Dectin-1 signaling to promote a robust IL-1β–mediated inflammatory response [3].

Curdlan is obtained by fermenting Alcaligenes faecalis under specific culture conditions, followed by extraction, precipitation, purification, and drying to yield a water-insoluble β-(1→3)-glucan polymer. Curdlan is a high-purity material and is essentially free of TLR2 and TLR4 activity, making it highly suitable for biochemical and immunological studies.

References:

1. Brown GD. et al., 2003. Dectin-1 mediates the biological effects of beta-glucans. J Exp Med. 197: 1119-24.
2. Goodridge HS. et al., 2009. Beta-glucan recognition by the innate immune system. Immunol Rev. 230(1):38-50.
3. Kankkunen P., 2010. (1,3)-beta-glucans activate both dectin-1 and NLRP3 inflammasome in human macrophages. J Immunol. 184(11):6335-42.