title: Trimeric autotransporter adhesins: variable structure, common function.
abstract: 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.
authors: Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Abteilung Proteinevolution, Spemannstr. 35, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. dirk.linke@tuebingen.mpg.de
authors: Dirk
authors: D
authors: Linke
authors: Tanja
authors: T
authors: Riess
authors: Ingo B
authors: IB
authors: Autenrieth
authors: Andrei
authors: A
authors: Lupas
authors: Volkhard A J
authors: VA
authors: Kempf