title: Genetic characterization of Bordetella pertussis filamentous haemagglutinin: a protein processed from an unusually large precursor.
abstract: The nucleotide sequence of the structural gene for filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA), fhaB, a crucial adherence factor for Bordetella pertussis, has been determined. Its 10774 nucleotides are far more than necessary to encode the 220 kD biologically active, mature polypeptide product, suggesting a role for co- or post-translational processing. Fusion proteins derived from various portions of the fhaB open reading frame (ORF) were used to generate polyclonal antisera. Western immunoblot analysis of purified FHA and Bordetella sp. whole cell extracts with these antisera indicated that the 220 kD product is encoded by the 5' portion of the ORF and that the smaller polypeptide species are breakdown products of this polypeptide. These data, as well as N-terminal amino acid sequencing of the major polypeptide species, suggest a scheme for the proteolytic processing of an FHA precursor polypeptide.
authors.affiliation: Sclavo Research Centre, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Domenighini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Relman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Capiau
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falkow
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prugnola
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scarlato
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rappuoli
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000235:genetics*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015719:Single-Strand Specific DNA and RNA Endonucleases; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; C065273:filamentous hemagglutinin adhesin, Bordetella pertussis; D015719:Single-Strand Specific DNA and RNA Endonucleases