Although the workings of the adaptive immune system may be traced in a satisfying way from generation of diversity to ligation of surface immunoglobulin to clonal expansion, a similarly complete and satisfying view of innate recognition is not in hand. Even the best characterized example of innate recognition, the inflammatory response to bacterial LPS (endotoxin), has a yawning gap in the steps of its progression. Results of long anticipated work published in a recent issue of Science (1) and in this issue of The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2) have now identified a molecule with a privileged position in innate recognition and the potential to fill this major gap.