Download MendeleyStructure of Surface Layer Homology (SLH) Domains from Bacillus anthracis Surface Array Protein.
Kern, J., Wilton, R., Zhang, R., Binkowski, T.A., Joachimiak, A., Schneewind, O.(2011) J Biological Chem 286: 26042-26049
- PubMed: 21572039 Search on PubMedSearch on PubMed Central
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M111.248070
- Primary Citation Related Structures:
3PYW - PubMed Abstract:
Surface (S)-layers, para-crystalline arrays of protein, are deposited in the envelope of most bacterial species. These surface organelles are retained in the bacterial envelope through the non-covalent association of proteins with cell wall carbohydrates. Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive pathogen, produces S-layers of the protein Sap, which uses three consecutive repeats of the surface-layer homology (SLH) domain to engage secondary cell wall polysaccharides (SCWP). Using x-ray crystallography, we reveal here the structure of these SLH domains, which assume the shape of a three-prong spindle. Each SLH domain contributes to a three-helical bundle at the spindle base, whereas another α-helix and its connecting loops generate the three prongs. The inter-prong grooves contain conserved cationic and anionic residues, which are necessary for SLH domains to bind the B. anthracis SCWP. Modeling experiments suggest that the SLH domains of other S-layer proteins also fold into three-prong spindles and capture bacterial envelope carbohydrates by a similar mechanism.
- Department of Microbiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
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