Purification, crystallization and preliminary data analysis of FocB, a transcription factor regulating fimbrial adhesin expression in uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

The transcription factor FocB belongs to a family of regulators encoded by several different fimbriae gene clusters in uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Recent findings suggest that FocB-family proteins may form different protein-protein complexes and that they may exert both positive and negative effects on the transcription of fimbriae genes. However, little is known about the actual role and mode of action when these proteins interact with the fimbriae operons. The 109-amino-acid FocB transcription factor from the foc gene cluster in E. coli strain J96 has been cloned, expressed and purified. The His(6)-tagged fusion protein was captured by Ni(2+)-affinity chromatography, cleaved with tobacco etch virus protease and purified by gel filtration. The purified protein is oligomeric, most likely in the form of dimers. NMR analysis guided the crystallization attempts by showing that probable conformational exchange or oligomerization is reduced at temperatures above 293 K and that removal of the highly flexible His(6) tag is advantageous. The protein was crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method at 295 K. A native data set to 2.0 A resolution was collected at 100 K using synchrotron radiation.

Structure of FocB--a member of a family of transcription factors regulating fimbrial adhesin expression in uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

In uropathogenic Escherichia coli, UPEC, different types of fimbriae are expressed to mediate interactions with host tissue. FocB belongs to the PapB family of transcription factors involved in the regulation of fimbriae gene clusters. Recent findings suggest that members from this family of proteins may form homomeric or heteromeric complexes and exert both positive and negative effects on the transcription of fimbriae genes. To elucidate the detailed function of FocB, we have determined its crystal structure at 1.4 A resolution. FocB is an all alpha-helical protein with a helix-turn-helix motif. Interestingly, conserved residues important for DNA-binding are located not in the postulated recognition helix of the motif, but in the preceding helix. Results from protein-DNA-binding studies suggest that FocB interacts with the minor groove of its cognate DNA target, which is indicative of a DNA interaction that is unusual for this motif. FocB crystallizes in the form of dimers. Packing interactions in the crystals give two plausible dimerization interfaces. Conserved residues, known to be important for protein oligomerization, are present at both interfaces, suggesting that both sites could play a role in a functional FocB protein.

The effect of iodide and chloride on transthyretin structure and stability.

Transthyretin amyloid formation occurs through a process of tetramer destabilization and partial unfolding. Small molecules, including the natural ligand thyroxine, stabilize the tetrameric form of the protein, and serve as inhibitors of amyloid formation. Crucial for TTR's ligand-binding properties are its three halogen-binding sites situated at the hormone-binding channel. In this study, we have performed a structural characterization of the binding of two halides, iodide and chloride, to TTR. Chlorides are known to shield charge repulsions at the tetrameric interface of TTR, which improve tetramer stability of the protein. Our study shows that iodides, like chlorides, provide tetramer stabilization in a concentration-dependent manner and at concentrations approximately 15-fold below that of chlorides. To elucidate binding sites of the halides, we took advantage of the anomalous scattering of iodide and used the single-wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD) method to solve the iodide-bound TTR structure at 1.8 A resolution. The structure of chloride-bound TTR was determined at 1.9 A resolution using difference Fourier techniques. The refined structures showed iodides and chlorides bound at two of the three halogen-binding sites located at the hydrophobic channel. These sites therefore also function as halide-binding sites.