New protein fold revealed by a 1.65 A resolution crystal structure of Francisella tularensis pathogenicity island protein IglC

Protein Sci. 2007 Nov;16(11):2560-3. doi: 10.1110/ps.073177307. Epub 2007 Sep 28.

Abstract

Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious Gram-negative intracellular pathogen that causes the fulminating disease tularemia and is considered to be a potential bioweapon. F. tularensis pathogenicity island proteins play a key role in modulating phagosome biogenesis and subsequent bacterial escape into the cytoplasm of macrophages. The 23 kDa pathogenicity island protein IglC is essential for the survival and proliferation of F. tularensis in macrophages. Seeking to gain some insight into its function, we determined the crystal structure of IglC at 1.65 A resolution. IglC adopts a beta-sandwich conformation that exhibits no similarity with any known protein structure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Computational Biology / methods*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray / methods*
  • Francisella tularensis / metabolism*
  • Genomic Islands*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proteomics / methods
  • Virulence Factors / chemistry

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Virulence Factors