title: Solution structure of the immunodominant domain of protective antigen GNA1870 of Neisseria meningitidis.
abstract: GNA1870, a 28-kDa surface-exposed lipoprotein of Neisseria meningitidis recently discovered by reverse vaccinology, is one of the most potent antigens of Meningococcus and a promising candidate for a universal vaccine against a devastating disease. Previous studies of epitope mapping and genetic characterization identified residues critical for bactericidal response within the C-terminal domain of the molecule. To elucidate the conformation of protective epitopes, we used NMR spectroscopy to obtain the solution structure of the immunodominant 18-kDa C-terminal portion of GNA1870. The structure consists of an eight-stranded antiparallel beta-barrel overlaid by a short alpha-helix with an unstructured N-terminal end. Residues previously shown to be important for antibody recognition were mapped on loops facing the same ridge of the molecule. The sequence similarity of GNA1870 with members of the bacterial transferrin receptor family allows one to predict the folding of this class of well known bacterial antigens, providing the basis for the rational engineering of high affinity B cell epitopes.
authors.affiliation: Centro Risonanze Magnetiche (CERM), University of Florence, Via L. Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cantini
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scarselli
authors.forename: Vega
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Masignani
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pizza
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Swennen
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Veggi
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Banci
authors.forename: Rino
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rappuoli
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000906:Antibodies / Q000737:chemistry; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D018604:Epitope Mapping; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000737:chemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008589:Meningococcal Infections; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000737:chemistry; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012984:Software; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; C488465:antigen 1870, Neisseria meningitidis