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Intramolecular amide bonds stabilize pili on the surface of bacilli

Journal Article · · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
Gram-positive bacteria elaborate pili and do so without the participation of folding chaperones or disulfide bond catalysts. Sortases, enzymes that cut pilin precursors, form covalent bonds that link pilin subunits and assemble pili on the bacterial surface. We determined the x-ray structure of BcpA, the major pilin subunit of Bacillus cereus. The BcpA precursor encompasses 2 Ig folds (CNA{sub 2} and CNA{sub 3}) and one jelly-roll domain (XNA) each of which synthesizes a single intramolecular amide bond. A fourth amide bond, derived from the Ig fold of CNA{sub 1}, is formed only after pilin subunits have been incorporated into pili. We report that the domains of pilin precursors have evolved to synthesize a discrete sequence of intramolecular amide bonds, thereby conferring structural stability and protease resistance to pili.
Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
1006018
Journal Information:
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Journal Issue: (47) ; 11, 2009 Vol. 106; ISSN PNASA6; ISSN 0027-8424
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH