The structure of the Haemophilus influenzae HMW1 pro-piece reveals a structural domain essential for bacterial two-partner secretion

J Biol Chem. 2007 Oct 19;282(42):31076-84. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M705750200. Epub 2007 Aug 14.

Abstract

In pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria, many virulence factors are secreted via the two-partner secretion pathway, which consists of an exoprotein called TpsA and a cognate outer membrane translocator called TpsB. The HMW1 and HMW2 adhesins are major virulence factors in nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and are prototype two-partner secretion pathway exoproteins. A key step in the delivery of HMW1 and HMW2 to the bacterial surface involves targeting to the HMW1B and HMW2B outer membrane translocators by an N-terminal region called the secretion domain. Here we present the crystal structure at 1.92 A of the HMW1 pro-piece (HMW1-PP), a region that contains the HMW1 secretion domain and is cleaved and released during HMW1 secretion. Structural analysis of HMW1-PP revealed a right-handed beta-helix fold containing 12 complete parallel coils and one large extra-helical domain. Comparison of HMW1-PP and the Bordetella pertussis FHA secretion domain (Fha30) reveals limited amino acid homology but shared structural features, suggesting that diverse TpsA proteins have a common structural domain required for targeting to cognate TpsB proteins. Further comparison of HMW1-PP and Fha30 structures may provide insights into the keen specificity of TpsA-TpsB interactions.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adhesins, Bacterial / chemistry*
  • Adhesins, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Bordetella pertussis / chemistry
  • Bordetella pertussis / metabolism
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Haemophilus influenzae / chemistry*
  • Haemophilus influenzae / metabolism
  • Protein Folding
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / physiology*
  • Structural Homology, Protein
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Virulence Factors, Bordetella / chemistry
  • Virulence Factors, Bordetella / metabolism

Substances

  • Adhesins, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • HMW1 protein, bacteria
  • HMW2 protein, bacteria
  • Virulence Factors, Bordetella
  • filamentous hemagglutinin adhesin, Bordetella pertussis

Associated data

  • PDB/2ODL