Trimeric autotransporter adhesins: variable structure, common function.
Trimeric autotransporter adhesins (TAAs) are important virulence factors in gram-negative pathogens. Despite the variety of hosts ranging from plants to mammals and the specialized regulation of TAAs, their molecular organization follows surprisingly simple rules: they form trimeric surface structures with a head-stalk-anchor architecture. The head and stalk are composed of a small set of domains, building blocks that are frequently arranged repetitively. We propose that this repetitive arrangement facilitates recombination of domains to modulate the specificity of the common function: adhesion to the host.
Linke
Dirk
D
Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Abteilung Proteinevolution, Spemannstr. 35, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. dirk.linke@tuebingen.mpg.de
Riess
Tanja
T
Autenrieth
Ingo B
IB
Lupas
Andrei
A
Kempf
Volkhard A J
VA