Open AccessA solute binding protein of Streptococcus pneumoniae iron transport
Author(s) -
Tai Stanley S,
Yu Chialin,
Lee Janice K
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1016/s0378-1097(03)00135-6
Subject(s) - streptococcus pneumoniae , hemin , hemoglobin , microbiology and biotechnology , virulence , pneumococcal infections , iron binding proteins , chemistry , binding protein , plasma protein binding , bacterial protein , virulence factor , biology , biochemistry , heme , gene , enzyme , antibiotics
Streptococcus pneumoniae causes considerable morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Iron acquisition is an important virulence factor for bacterial pathogens. Two loci, piu and pia , were identified as responsible for the hemoglobin utilization of S. pneumoniae . The binding activity and surface accessibility of the solute binding protein of PiuA were studied. PiuA is a lipoprotein, binds hemin and hemoglobin, resides on the cytoplasmic membrane, and is not exposed on the surface of S. pneumoniae . The localization of PiuA has implications in its role in hemoglobin utilization and possible use as a pneumococcal vaccine.