1jmm

Publication Abstract from PubMed

Antigens I/II are large multifunctional adhesins from oral viridans streptococci that exert immunomodulatory effects on human cells and play important roles in inflammatory disorders. Among them, Streptococcus mutans plays a major role in the initiation of dental caries. The structure of the V-region (SrV+, residues 464-840) of the antigen I/II of S. mutans has been determined using the multiwavelength anomalous diffraction phasing technique with seleno-methionine-substituted recombinant protein and subsequently refined at 2.4 A resolution. The crystal structure of SrV+ revealed a lectin-like fold that displays a putative preformed carbohydrate-binding site stabilized by a metal ion. Inhibition of this binding site may confer to humans a protection against dental caries and dissemination of the bacteria to extra-oral sites involved in life-threatening inflammatory diseases. This crystal structure constitutes a first step in understanding the structure-function relationship of antigens I/II and may help in delineating new preventive or therapeutic strategies against colonization of the host by oral streptococci.

Crystal structure of the V-region of Streptococcus mutans antigen I/II at 2.4 A resolution suggests a sugar preformed binding site.,Troffer-Charlier N, Ogier J, Moras D, Cavarelli J J Mol Biol. 2002 Apr 19;318(1):179-88. PMID:12054777^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.