nor-muramyl dipeptide

nor-MDP (nor-muramyl dipeptide; N-acetyl-nor-muramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine) is a synthetic analog of muramyl dipeptide (MDP), the minimal bioactive peptidoglycan motif found in bacterial cell walls. Like MDP, nor-MDP acts as an immunostimulant by activating the cytosolic pattern recognition receptor NOD2. Upon binding to NOD2, it triggers downstream signaling via RIP2 kinase, leading to activation of NF-κB and MAPK pathways and subsequent production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Nor-MDP has been investigated primarily as an adjuvant in cancer vaccines—specifically in HER-2 peptide-based vaccines for gastric, breast, and ovarian cancers—to enhance immune responses against tumor antigens and help overcome resistance to monoclonal antibody therapies such as trastuzumab and pertuzumab. It is currently being studied in phase 1 clinical trials for these indications[4].

Other names

N-acetyl-nor-muramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine