title: Crystal structure of the OpcA integral membrane adhesin from Neisseria meningitidis.
abstract: OpcA is an integral outer membrane protein from Neisseria meningitidis, the causative agent of meningococcal meningitis and septicemia. It mediates the adhesion of N. meningitidis to epithelial and endothelial cells by binding to vitronectin and proteoglycan cell-surface receptors. Here, we report the determination of the crystal structure of OpcA to 2.0 A resolution. OpcA adopts a 10-stranded beta-barrel structure with extensive loop regions that protrude above the predicted surface of the membrane. The second external loop adopts an unusual conformation, traversing the axis of the beta-barrel and apparently blocking formation of a pore through the membrane. Loops 2, 3, 4, and 5 associate to form one side of a crevice in the external surface of the structure, the other side being formed by loop 1. The crevice is lined by positively charged residues and would form an ideal binding site for proteoglycan polysaccharide. The structure, therefore, suggests a model for how adhesion of this important human pathogen to proteoglycan is mediated at the molecular level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, Sackville Street, Manchester M60 1QD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Achtman
authors.forename: Jeremy P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Derrick
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000737:chemistry*; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000737:chemistry; D055672:Static Electricity; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C426237:OpcA protein, Nostoc punctiforme; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C057840:omptin outer membrane protease