title: Characterization of a highly structured domain in Tbp2 from Neisseria meningitidis involved in binding to human transferrin.
abstract: The binding of iron-loaded human transferrin at the surface of Neisseria meningitidis is mediated by two polypeptides, Tbp1 and Tbp2. Predicted Tbp amino acid sequences from N. meningitidis strains are highly divergent. This variability is particularly pronounced throughout the Tbp2 polypeptide. In this study, a highly structured and extremely stable Tbp2 domain of about 270 to 290 amino acids which is involved in the binding to transferrin and whose position is well conserved has been characterized. The conservation of such a remarkable structure in a very divergent protein domain (there is only 43% amino acid identity within this region) suggests that is plays an essential biological role and raises a number of questions regarding tbp2 evolution.
authors.affiliation: Transgène SA, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vonder Haar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Legrain
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Kolbe
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011489:Protein Denaturation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism*; D033863:Transferrin-Binding Proteins
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014168:Transferrin; D033863:Transferrin-Binding Proteins