Structure of the Chlamydia trachomatis immunodominant antigen Pgp3.

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Source:

J Biol Chem, Volume 288, Issue 30, p.22068-79 (2013)

Keywords:

Antigens, Bacterial, Bacterial Proteins, Chlamydia Infections, Chlamydia trachomatis, Crystallography, X-Ray, Female, Humans, Immunodominant Epitopes, Models, Molecular, Pregnancy, Pregnancy, Ectopic, Protein Folding, Protein Multimerization, Protein Structure, Quaternary, Protein Structure, Secondary, Protein Structure, Tertiary, Recombinant Proteins

Abstract:

<p>Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial disease. Left untreated, it can lead to ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, and infertility. Here we present the structure of the secreted C. trachomatis protein Pgp3, an immunodominant antigen and putative virulence factor. The ∼84-kDa Pgp3 homotrimer, encoded on a cryptic plasmid, consists of globular N- and C-terminal assemblies connected by a triple-helical coiled-coil. The C-terminal domains possess folds similar to members of the TNF family of cytokines. The closest Pgp3 C-terminal domain structural homologs include a lectin from Burkholderia cenocepacia, the C1q component of complement, and a portion of the Bacillus anthracis spore surface protein BclA, all of which play roles in bioadhesion. The N-terminal domain consists of a concatenation of structural motifs typically found in trimeric viral proteins. The central parallel triple-helical coiled-coil contains an unusual alternating pattern of apolar and polar residue pairs that generate a rare right-handed superhelical twist. The unique architecture of Pgp3 provides the basis for understanding its role in chlamydial pathogenesis and serves as the platform for its optimization as a potential vaccine antigen candidate. </p>

PDB: 
4JDM full, 4JDN, 4JDO
Detector: 
Q315
Beamline: 
24-ID-C
24-ID-E