– LY96 (Lymphocyte Antigen 96, also known as ESOP-1) is a Protein Coding gene. 2 alternatively spliced human isoforms have been reported. This gene encodes a protein that associates with toll-like receptor 4 on the cell surface and confers responsiveness to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), thus providing a link between the receptor and LPS signaling. LY-96 also cooperates with TLR2 in the response to cell wall components from Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It enhances the TLR4-dependent activation of NF-kappa-B. ESOP-1 has 16 amino acids, the sequence of which shows 64% identity with human ESOP-1/MD-2. ESOP-1 mRNA is highly expressed in the mouse embryos at 7.5 days after coitus. Diseases associated with LY96 include Melioidosis and Intestinal Botulism.