Open AccessPurification, crystallization and halide phasing of a Streptococcus agalactiae backbone pilin GBS80 fragment
Author(s) -
Vengadesan Krishnan,
Ma Xin,
Dwivedi Prabhat,
TonThat Hung,
Narayana Sthanam V. L.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
acta crystallographica section f
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1744-3091
DOI - 10.1107/s1744309110043101
Subject(s) - pilin , fragment (logic) , crystallization , streptococcus agalactiae , chemistry , pilus , halide , crystallography , streptococcus , biology , biochemistry , bacteria , genetics , inorganic chemistry , escherichia coli , organic chemistry , computer science , gene , programming language
The Gram‐positive pathogen Streptococcus agalactiae or group B streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of bacterial septicemia, pneumonia and meningitis among neonates around the world. The pathogen assembles two types of pili on its surface, named PI‐1 and PI‐2, that mediate bacterial adherence to host cells. The GBS PI‐1 pilus is formed by the major pilin GBS80, which forms the pilus shaft, and two minor pilins GBS104 and GBS52, which are incorporated into the pilus structure. While considerable structural information exists on Gram‐negative pili, the structural study of Gram‐positive pili is an emerging area of research. Here, the purification, crystallization and initial phasing of the 35 kDa major fragment of the backbone pilin GBS80 are reported. Crystals were obtained in two different space groups: P 2 1 and C 2. SAD data collected from an iodide‐derivative crystal at the home source were used to obtain initial phases and interpretable electron‐density maps.