Crystal Structure of Neurotropism-Associated Variable Surface Protein 1 (VSP1) of Borrelia Turicatae

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2006 · J. Bacteriol.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.00028-06· OSTI ID:914146

Lawson, C; Yung, B; Barbour, A; Zuckert, W

Vsp surface lipoproteins are serotype-defining antigens of relapsing fever spirochetes that undergo multiphasic antigenic variation to allow bacterial persistence in spite of an immune response. Two isogenic serotypes of Borrelia turicatae strain Oz1 differ in their Vsp sequences and in disease manifestations in infected mice: Vsp1 is associated with the selection of a neurological niche, while Vsp2 is associated with blood and skin infection. We report here crystal structures of the Vsp1 dimer at 2.7 and 2.2 Angstroms. The structures confirm that relapsing fever Vsp proteins share a common helical fold with OspCs of Lyme disease-causing Borrelia. The fold features an inner stem formed by highly conserved N and C termini and an outer 'dome' formed by the variable central residues. Both Vsp1 and OspC structures possess small water-filled cavities, or pockets, that are lined largely by variable residues and are thus highly variable in shape. These features appear to signify tolerance of the Vsp-OspC fold for imperfect packing of residues at its antigenic surface. Structural comparison of Vsp1 with a homology model for Vsp2 suggests that observed differences in disease manifestation may arise in part from distinct differences in electrostatic surface properties; additional predicted positively charged surface patches on Vsp2 compared to Vsp1 may be sufficient to explain the relative propensity of Vsp2 to bind to acidic glycosaminoglycans.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) National Synchrotron Light Source
• Sponsoring Organization: Doe - Office Of Science
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-98CH10886
• OSTI ID: 914146
• Report Number(s): BNL--78714-2007-JA
• Journal Information: J. Bacteriol., Journal Name: J. Bacteriol. Vol. 188; ISSN JOBAAY; ISSN 0021-9193
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ANTIGENS
BLOOD
CAVITIES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DIMERS
DISEASES
ELECTROSTATICS
FEVER
LIPOPROTEINS
PROTEINS
RESIDUES
SHAPE
STRAINS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TOLERANCE
national synchrotron light source