Topological investigation of glucosyltransferase V in Shigella flexneri using the substituted cysteine accessibility method

Biochemistry. 2013 Apr 16;52(15):2655-61. doi: 10.1021/bi400168h. Epub 2013 Apr 5.

Abstract

Modification of the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen of Shigella converts the serotype, which is significant as acquired immune responses are serotype specific. Glucosyltransferases (Gtrs) modify the O-antigen by the addition of glucosyl-groups; however the precise mechanism of O-antigen modification is not fully understood. This study aims to substantiate inferences made on the GtrV topological structure using the substituted cysteine accessibility method (SCAM). Twenty-one amino acid residues were tested to clarify three features of GtrV: the extramembrane regions, a proposed reentrant loop, and a membrane border region. Overall, the results agreed with a previous topology proposed for GtrV. The topology of GtrV consists of 11 extramembrane regions with a cytoplasmic N-terminus, periplasmic C-terminus and 9 transmembrane (TM) helices. The existence of a reentrant loop between TM helices IV and V was verified, and the cytoplasmic membrane border region of TM helix II was examined in depth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Cysteine / chemistry
  • Cysteine / metabolism*
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism
  • Glucosyltransferases / chemistry*
  • Glucosyltransferases / genetics
  • Glucosyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Glucosyltransferases
  • GtrV protein, Shigella flexneri
  • Cysteine