Molecular mechanism of IKK catalytic dimer docking to NF-κB substrates.

The inhibitor of κB (IκB) kinase (IKK) is a central regulator of NF-κB signaling. All IKK complexes contain hetero- or homodimers of the catalytic IKKß and/or IKKα subunits. Here, we identify a YDDΦxΦ motif, which is conserved in substrates of canonical (IκBα, IκBß) and alternative (p100) NF-κB pathways, and which mediates docking to catalytic IKK dimers. We demonstrate a quantitative correlation between docking affinity and IKK activity related to IκBα phosphorylation/degradation. Furthermore, we show that phosphorylation of the motif's conserved tyrosine, an event previously reported to promote IκBα accumulation and inhibition of NF-κB gene expression, suppresses the docking interaction. Results from integrated structural analyzes indicate that the motif binds to a groove at the IKK dimer interface. Consistently, suppression of IKK dimerization also abolishes IκBα substrate binding. Finally, we show that an optimized bivalent motif peptide inhibits NF-κB signaling. This work unveils a function for IKKα/ß dimerization in substrate motif recognition.

The cohesin ATPase cycle is mediated by specific conformational dynamics and interface plasticity of SMC1A and SMC3 ATPase domains.

Cohesin is key to eukaryotic genome organization and acts throughout the cell cycle in an ATP-dependent manner. The mechanisms underlying cohesin ATPase activity are poorly understood. Here, we characterize distinct steps of the human cohesin ATPase cycle and show that the SMC1A and SMC3 ATPase domains undergo specific but concerted structural rearrangements along this cycle. Specifically, whereas the proximal coiled coil of the SMC1A ATPase domain remains conformationally stable, that of the SMC3 displays an intrinsic flexibility. The ATP-dependent formation of the heterodimeric SMC1A/SMC3 ATPase module (engaged state) favors this flexibility, which is counteracted by NIPBL and DNA binding (clamped state). Opening of the SMC3/RAD21 interface (open-engaged state) stiffens the SMC3 proximal coiled coil, thus constricting together with that of SMC1A the ATPase module DNA-binding chamber. The plasticity of the ATP-dependent interface between the SMC1A and SMC3 ATPase domains enables these structural rearrangements while keeping the ATP gate shut. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

Peptide-Based Covalent Inhibitors Bearing Mild Electrophiles to Target a Conserved His Residue of the Bacterial Sliding Clamp.

Peptide-based covalent inhibitors targeted to nucleophilic protein residues have recently emerged as new modalities to target protein-protein interactions (PPIs) as they may provide some benefits over more classic competitive inhibitors. Covalent inhibitors are generally targeted to cysteine, the most intrinsically reactive amino acid residue, and to lysine, which is more abundant at the surface of proteins but much less frequently to histidine. Herein, we report the structure-guided design of targeted covalent inhibitors (TCIs) able to bind covalently and selectively to the bacterial sliding clamp (SC), by reacting with a well-conserved histidine residue located on the edge of the peptide-binding pocket. SC is an essential component of the bacterial DNA replication machinery, identified as a promising target for the development of new antibacterial compounds. Thermodynamic and kinetic analyses of ligands bearing different mild electrophilic warheads confirmed the higher efficiency of the chloroacetamide compared to Michael acceptors. Two high-resolution X-ray structures of covalent inhibitor-SC adducts were obtained, revealing the canonical orientation of the ligand and details of covalent bond formation with histidine. Proteomic studies were consistent with a selective SC engagement by the chloroacetamide-based TCI. Finally, the TCI of SC was substantially more active than the parent noncovalent inhibitor in an in vitro SC-dependent DNA synthesis assay, validating the potential of the approach to design covalent inhibitors of protein-protein interactions targeted to histidine.

Characterization of SLA RNA promoter from dengue virus and its interaction with the viral non-structural NS5 protein.

The Dengue virus (DENV) is the most significant arthropod-borne viral pathogen in humans with 400 million infections annually. DENV comprises four distinct serotypes (DENV-1 to -4) which complicates vaccine development. Any of the four serotypes can cause clinical illness but with distinctive infection dynamics. Variations in sequences identified within the four genomes induce structural differences in crucial RNA motifs that were suggested to be correlated to the degree of pathogenicity among DENV-1 to -4. In particular, the RNA Stem-loop A (SLA) at the 5'-end of the genome, acts as a key regulator of the viral replication cycle by interacting with the viral NS5 polymerase to initiate the minus-strand viral RNA synthesis and later to methylate and cap the synthesized RNA. The molecular details of this interaction remain not fully described. Here, we report the solution secondary structures of SLA from DENV-1 to -4. Our results highlight that the four SLA exhibit structural and dynamic differences. Secondly, to determine whether SLA RNA contains serotype-specific determinants for the recognition by the viral NS5 protein, we investigated interactions between SLA from DENV -1 to -4 and DENV2 NS5 using combined biophysical approaches. Our results show that NS5 from DENV2 is able to bind SLA from other serotypes, but that other viral or host factors may be necessary to stabilize the complex and promote the catalytically active state of the NS5. By contrast, we show that a serotype-specific binding is driven by specific interactions involving conformational changes within the SLA RNA.

Asymmetric dimerization in a transcription factor superfamily is promoted by allosteric interactions with DNA.

Transcription factors, such as nuclear receptors achieve precise transcriptional regulation by means of a tight and reciprocal communication with DNA, where cooperativity gained by receptor dimerization is added to binding site sequence specificity to expand the range of DNA target gene sequences. To unravel the evolutionary steps in the emergence of DNA selection by steroid receptors (SRs) from monomeric to dimeric palindromic binding sites, we carried out crystallographic, biophysical and phylogenetic studies, focusing on the estrogen-related receptors (ERRs, NR3B) that represent closest relatives of SRs. Our results, showing the structure of the ERR DNA-binding domain bound to a palindromic response element (RE), unveil the molecular mechanisms of ERR dimerization which are imprinted in the protein itself with DNA acting as an allosteric driver by allowing the formation of a novel extended asymmetric dimerization region (KR-box). Phylogenetic analyses suggest that this dimerization asymmetry is an ancestral feature necessary for establishing a strong overall dimerization interface, which was progressively modified in other SRs in the course of evolution.

Towards a comprehensive understanding of RNA deamination: synthesis and properties of xanthosine-modified RNA.

Nucleobase deamination, such as A-to-I editing, represents an important posttranscriptional modification of RNA. When deamination affects guanosines, a xanthosine (X) containing RNA is generated. However, the biological significance and chemical consequences on RNA are poorly understood. We present a comprehensive study on the preparation and biophysical properties of X-modified RNA. Thermodynamic analyses revealed that base pairing strength is reduced to a level similar to that observed for a G•U replacement. Applying NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, we demonstrate that X can form distinct wobble geometries with uridine depending on the sequence context. In contrast, X pairing with cytidine occurs either through wobble geometry involving protonated C or in Watson-Crick-like arrangement. This indicates that the different pairing modes are of comparable stability separated by low energetic barriers for switching. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the flexible pairing properties directly affect the recognition of X-modified RNA by reverse transcription enzymes. Primer extension assays and PCR-based sequencing analysis reveal that X is preferentially read as G or A and that the ratio depends on the type of reverse transcriptase. Taken together, our results elucidate important properties of X-modified RNA paving the way for future studies on its biological significance.

Iterative Structure-Based Optimization of Short Peptides Targeting the Bacterial Sliding Clamp.

The bacterial DNA sliding clamp (SC), or replication processivity factor, is a promising target for the development of novel antibiotics. We report a structure-activity relationship study of a new series of peptides interacting within the Escherichia coli SC (EcSC) binding pocket. Various modifications were explored including N-alkylation of the peptide bonds, extension of the N-terminal moiety, and introduction of hydrophobic and constrained residues at the C-terminus. In each category, single modifications were identified that increased affinity to EcSC. A combination of such modifications yielded in several cases to a substantially increased affinity compared to the parent peptides with Kd in the range of 30-80 nM. X-ray structure analysis of 11 peptide/EcSC co-crystals revealed new interactions at the peptide-protein interface (i.e., stacking interactions, hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic contacts) that can account for the improved binding. Several compounds among the best binders were also found to be more effective in inhibiting SC-dependent DNA synthesis.

Structural insights into the membrane receptor ShuA in DDM micelles and in a model of gram-negative bacteria outer membrane as seen by SAXS and MD simulations.

Successful crystallization of membrane proteins in detergent micelles depends on key factors such as conformational stability of the protein in micellar assemblies, the protein-detergent complex (PDC) monodispersity and favorable protein crystal contacts by suitable shielding of the protein hydrophobic surface by the detergent belt. With the aim of studying the influence of amphiphilic environment on membrane protein structure, stability and crystallizability, we combine molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with SEC-MALLS and SEC-SAXS (Size Exclusion Chromatography in line with Multi Angle Laser Light Scattering or Small Angle X-ray Scattering) experiments to describe the protein-detergent interactions that could help to rationalize PDC crystallization. In this context, we compare the protein-detergent interactions of ShuA from Shigella dysenteriae in n-Dodecyl-ß-D-Maltopyranoside (DDM) with ShuA inserted in a realistic model of gram-negative bacteria outer membrane (OM) containing a mixture of bacterial lipopolysaccharide and phospholipids. To evaluate the quality of the PDC models, we compute the corresponding SAXS curves from the MD trajectories and compare with the experimental ones. We show that computed SAXS curves obtained from the MD trajectories reproduce better the SAXS obtained from the SEC-SAXS experiments for ShuA surrounded by 268 DDM molecules. The MD results show that the DDM molecules form around ShuA a closed belt whose the hydrophobic thickness appears slightly smaller (~22 Å) than the hydrophobic transmembrane domain of the protein (24.6 Å) suggested by Orientations of Proteins in Membranes (OPM) database. The simulations also show that ShuA transmembrane domain is remarkably stable in all the systems except for the extracellular and periplasmic loops that exhibit larger movements due to specific molecular interactions with lipopolysaccharides (LPS). We finally point out that this detergent behavior may lead to the occlusion of the periplasmic hydrophilic surface and poor crystal contacts leading to difficulties in crystallization of ShuA in DDM.

Different views of the dynamic landscape covered by the 5'-hairpin of the 7SK small nuclear RNA.

The 7SK small nuclear RNA (7SKsnRNA) plays a key role in the regulation of RNA polymerase II by sequestrating and inhibiting the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) in the 7SK ribonucleoprotein complex (7SKsnRNP), a process mediated by interaction with the protein HEXIM. P-TEFb is also an essential cellular factor recruited by the viral protein Tat to ensure the replication of the viral RNA in the infection cycle of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). Tat promotes the release of P-TEFb from the 7SKsnRNP and subsequent activation of transcription, by displacing HEXIM from the 5'-hairpin of the 7SKsnRNA. This hairpin (HP1), comprising the signature sequence of the 7SKsnRNA, has been the subject of three independent structural studies aimed at identifying the structural features that could drive the recognition by the two proteins, both depending on arginine-rich motifs (ARM). Interestingly, four distinct structures were determined. In an attempt to provide a comprehensive view of the structure-function relationship of this versatile RNA, we present here a structural analysis of the models, highlighting how HP1 is able to adopt distinct conformations with significant impact on the compactness of the molecule. Since these models are solved under different conditions by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and crystallography, the impact of the buffer composition on the conformational variation was investigated by complementary biophysical approaches. Finally, using isothermal titration calorimetry, we determined the thermodynamic signatures of the Tat-ARM and HEXIM-ARM peptide interactions with the RNA, showing that they are associated with distinct binding mechanisms.

Thioguanosine Conversion Enables mRNA-Lifetime Evaluation by RNA Sequencing Using Double Metabolic Labeling (TUC-seq DUAL).

Temporal information about cellular RNA populations is essential to understand the functional roles of RNA. We have developed the hydrazine/NH4 Cl/OsO4 -based conversion of 6-thioguanosine (6sG) into A', where A' constitutes a 6-hydrazino purine derivative. A' retains the Watson-Crick base-pair mode and is efficiently decoded as adenosine in primer extension assays and in RNA sequencing. Because 6sG is applicable to metabolic labeling of freshly synthesized RNA and because the conversion chemistry is fully compatible with the conversion of the frequently used metabolic label 4-thiouridine (4sU) into C, the combination of both modified nucleosides in dual-labeling setups enables high accuracy measurements of RNA decay. This approach, termed TUC-seq DUAL, uses the two modified nucleosides in subsequent pulses and their simultaneous detection, enabling mRNA-lifetime evaluation with unprecedented precision.

A unique ferrous iron binding mode is associated with large conformational changes for the transport protein FpvC of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa secretes pyoverdine, a major siderophore to get access to iron, an essential nutrient. Pyoverdine scavenges ferric iron in the bacterial environment with the resulting complex internalized by bacteria. Releasing of iron from pyoverdine in the periplasm involves an iron reduction by an inner membrane reductase and two solute-binding proteins (SBPs) FpvC and FpvF in association with their ABC transporter. FpvC and FpvF belong to two different subgroups of SBPs within the structural cluster A: FpvC and FpvF were proposed to be a metal-binding protein and a ferrisiderophore-binding protein respectively. Here, we report the redox state and the binding mode of iron to FpvC. We first solved the crystal structure of FpvC bound to a fortuitous Ni2+ by single anomalous dispersion method. Using a different protein purification strategy, we determined the structure of FpvC with manganese and iron, which binds to FpvC in a ferrous state as demonstrated by electron paramagnetic resonance. FpvC is the first example of a hexahistidine metal site among SBPs in which the Fe2+ redox state is stabilized under aerobic conditions. Using biophysics methods, we showed that FpvC reversibly bind to a broad range of divalent ions. The structure of a mutant mimicking the apo FpvC reveals a protein in an open state with large conformational changes when compared with the metal-bound FpvC. These results highlight that the canonical metal site in FpvC is distinct from those yet described in SBPs and they provide new insights into the mechanism of PVD-Fe dissociation in P. aeruginosa.

A simple and versatile microfluidic device for efficient biomacromolecule crystallization and structural analysis by serial crystallography.

Determining optimal conditions for the production of well diffracting crystals is a key step in every biocrystallography project. Here, a microfluidic device is described that enables the production of crystals by counter-diffusion and their direct on-chip analysis by serial crystallography at room temperature. Nine 'non-model' and diverse biomacromolecules, including seven soluble proteins, a membrane protein and an RNA duplex, were crystallized and treated on-chip with a variety of standard techniques including micro-seeding, crystal soaking with ligands and crystal detection by fluorescence. Furthermore, the crystal structures of four proteins and an RNA were determined based on serial data collected on four synchrotron beamlines, demonstrating the general applicability of this multipurpose chip concept.

Molecular dissection of protein-protein interactions between integrin α5ß1 and the Helicobacter pylori Cag type IV secretion system.

The more severe strains of the bacterial human pathogen Helicobacter pylori produce a type IV secretion system (cagT4SS) to inject the oncoprotein cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) into gastric cells. This syringe-like molecular apparatus is prolonged by an external pilus that exploits integrins as receptors to mediate the injection of CagA. The molecular determinants of the interaction of the cagT4SS pilus with the integrin ectodomain are still poorly understood. In this study, we have used surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to generate a comprehensive analysis of the protein-protein interactions between purified CagA, CagL, CagI, CagY repeat domain II (CagYRRII ), CagY C-terminal domain (CagYB10 ) and integrin α5ß1 ectodomain (α5ß1E ) or headpiece domain (α5ß1HP ). We found that CagI, CagA, CagL and CagYB10 but not CagYRRII were able to interact with α5ß1E with affinities similar to the one observed for α5ß1E interaction with its physiological ligand fibronectin. We further showed that integrin activation and its associated conformational change increased CagA, CagL and CagYB10 affinities for the receptor. Furthermore, CagI did not interact with integrin unless the receptor was in open conformation. CagI, CagA but not CagL and CagYB10 interacted with the α5ß1HP . Our SPR study also revealed novel interactions between CagA and CagL, CagA and CagYB10 , and CagA and CagI. Altogether, our data map the network of interactions between host-cell α5ß1 integrin and the cagT4SS proteins and suggest that activation of the receptor promotes interactions with the secretion apparatus and possibly CagA injection.

Iron Release from the Siderophore Pyoverdine in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Involves Three New Actors: FpvC, FpvG, and FpvH.

Siderophores are iron chelators produced by bacteria to access iron, an essential nutriment. Pyoverdine (PVDI), the major siderophore produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, consists of a fluorescent chromophore linked to an octapeptide. The ferric form of PVDI is transported from the extracellular environment into the periplasm by the outer membrane transporter, FpvA. Iron is then released from the siderophore in the periplasm by a mechanism that does not involve chemical modification of the chelator but an iron reduction step. Here, we followed the kinetics of iron release from PVDI, in vitro and in living cells, by monitoring its fluorescence (as apo PVDI is fluorescent, whereas PVDI-Fe(III) is not). Deletion of the inner membrane proteins fpvG (PA2403) and fpvH (PA2404) affected 55Fe uptake via PVDI and completely abolished PVDI-Fe dissociation, indicating that these two proteins are involved in iron acquisition via this siderophore. PVDI-Fe dissociation studies, using an in vitro assay, showed that iron release from this siderophore requires the presence of an iron reducer (DTT) and an iron chelator (ferrozine). In this assay, DTT could be replaced by the inner membrane protein, FpvG, and ferrozine by the periplasmic protein, FpvC, suggesting that FpvG acts as a reductase and FpvC as an Fe2+ chelator in the process of PVDI-Fe dissociation in the periplasm of P. aeruginosa cells. This mechanism of iron release from PVDI is atypical among Gram-negative bacteria but seems to be conserved among Pseudomonads.

Systematic analysis of protein-detergent complexes applying dynamic light scattering to optimize solutions for crystallization trials.

Detergents are widely used for the isolation and solubilization of membrane proteins to support crystallization and structure determination. Detergents are amphiphilic molecules that form micelles once the characteristic critical micelle concentration (CMC) is achieved and can solubilize membrane proteins by the formation of micelles around them. The results are presented of a study of micelle formation observed by in situ dynamic light-scattering (DLS) analyses performed on selected detergent solutions using a newly designed advanced hardware device. DLS was initially applied in situ to detergent samples with a total volume of approximately 2 µl. When measured with DLS, pure detergents show a monodisperse radial distribution in water at concentrations exceeding the CMC. A series of all-trans n-alkyl-ß-D-maltopyranosides, from n-hexyl to n-tetradecyl, were used in the investigations. The results obtained verify that the application of DLS in situ is capable of distinguishing differences in the hydrodynamic radii of micelles formed by detergents differing in length by only a single CH2 group in their aliphatic tails. Subsequently, DLS was applied to investigate the distribution of hydrodynamic radii of membrane proteins and selected water-insoluble proteins in presence of detergent micelles. The results confirm that stable protein-detergent complexes were prepared for (i) bacteriorhodopsin and (ii) FetA in complex with a ligand as examples of transmembrane proteins. A fusion of maltose-binding protein and the Duck hepatitis B virus X protein was added to this investigation as an example of a non-membrane-associated protein with low water solubility. The increased solubility of this protein in the presence of detergent could be monitored, as well as the progress of proteolytic cleavage to separate the fusion partners. This study demonstrates the potential of in situ DLS to optimize solutions of protein-detergent complexes for crystallization applications.

Structure, function and binding selectivity and stereoselectivity of siderophore-iron outer membrane transporters.

To get access to iron, microorganisms produce and release into their environment small organic metal chelators called siderophores. In parallel, they produce siderophore-iron outer membrane transporters (also called TonB-Dependent Transporters or TBDT) embedded in the outer membrane; these proteins actively reabsorb the siderophore loaded with iron from the extracellular medium. This active uptake requires energy in the form of the proton motive force transferred from the inner membrane to the outer membrane transporter via the inner membrane TonB complex. Siderophores produced by microorganisms are structurally very diverse with molecular weights of 150 up to 2000Da. Siderophore-iron uptake from the extracellular medium by TBDTs is a highly selective and sometimes even stereoselective process, with each siderophore having a specific TBDT. Unlike the siderophores, all TBDTs have similar structures and belong to the outer membrane ß-barrel protein superfamily. The way in which the siderophore-iron complex passes through the TBDT is still unclear. In some bacteria, TBDTs are also partners of signaling cascades regulating the expression of proteins involved in siderophore biosynthesis and siderophore-iron acquisition.

An ABC transporter with two periplasmic binding proteins involved in iron acquisition in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pyoverdine I is the main siderophore secreted byPseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 to obtain access to iron. After extracellular iron chelation, pyoverdine-Fe uptake into the bacteria involves a specific outer-membrane transporter, FpvA. Iron is then released in the periplasm by a mechanism involving no siderophore modification but probably iron reduction. The proteins involved in this dissociation step are currently unknown. The pyoverdine locus contains the fpvCDEF operon, which contains four genes. These genes encode an ABC transporter of unknown function with the distinguishing characteristic of encompassing two periplasmic binding proteins, FpvC and FpvF, associated with the ATPase, FpvE, and the permease, FpvD. Deletion of these four genes partially inhibited cytoplasmic uptake of (55)Fe in the presence of pyoverdine and markedly slowed down the in vivo kinetics of iron release from the siderophore. This transporter is therefore involved in iron acquisition by pyoverdine in P. aeruginosa. Sequence alignments clearly showed that FpvC and FpvF belong to two different subgroups of periplasmic binding proteins. FpvC appears to be a metal-binding protein, whereas FpvF has homology with ferrisiderophore binding proteins. In vivo cross-linking assays and incubation of purified FpvC and FpvF proteins showed formation of complexes between both proteins. These complexes were able to bind in vitro PVDI-Fe, PVDI-Ga, or apo PVDI. This is the first example of an ABC transporter involved in iron acquisition via siderophores, with two periplasmic binding proteins interacting with the ferrisiderophore. The possible roles of FpvCDEF in iron uptake by the PVDI pathway are discussed.

Pyochelin enantiomers and their outer-membrane siderophore transporters in fluorescent pseudomonads: structural bases for unique enantiospecific recognition.

Pyochelin (Pch) and enantiopyochelin (EPch) are enantiomeric siderophores, with three chiral centers, produced under iron limitation conditions by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescens , respectively. After iron chelation in the extracellular medium, Pch-Fe and EPch-Fe are recognized and transported by their specific outer-membrane transporters: FptA in P. aeruginosa and FetA in P. fluorescens . Structural analysis of FetA-EPch-Fe and FptA-Pch-Fe, combined with mutagenesis and docking studies revealed the structural basis of the stereospecific recognition of these enantiomers by their respective transporters. Whereas FetA and FptA have a low sequence identity but high structural homology, the Pch and EPch binding pockets do not share any structural homology, but display similar physicochemical properties. The stereospecific recognition of both enantiomers by their corresponding transporters is imposed by the configuration of the siderophore's C4'' and C2'' chiral centers. This recognition involves specific hydrogen bonds between the Arg91 guanidinium group and EPch-Fe for FetA and between the Leu117-Leu116 main chain and Pch-Fe for FptA. FetA and FptA are the first membrane receptors to be structurally described with opposite binding enantioselectivities for their ligands, giving insights into the structural basis of their enantiospecificity.

Expression of membrane proteins in Drosophila Melanogaster S2 cells: Production and analysis of a EGFP-fused G protein-coupled receptor as a model.

In the process of selecting an appropriate host for the heterologous expression of functional eukaryotic membrane proteins, Drosophila S2 cells, although not yet fully explored, appear as a valuable alternative to mammalian cell lines or other virus-infected insect cell systems. This nonlytic, plasmid-based system actually combines several major physiological and bioprocess advantages that make it a highly potential and scalable cellular tool for the production of membrane proteins in a variety of applications, including functional characterization, pharmacological profiling, molecular simulations, structural analyses, or generation of vaccines. We present here a series of protocols and hints that would serve the successful expression of membrane proteins in S2 cells, using an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)/G protein-coupled receptor (EGFP-GPCR) as a model.

Structure of the heme/hemoglobin outer membrane receptor ShuA from Shigella dysenteriae: heme binding by an induced fit mechanism.

Shigella dysentriae and other Gram-negative human pathogens are able to use iron from heme bound to hemoglobin for growing. We solved at 2.6 A resolution the 3D structure of the TonB-dependent heme/hemoglobin outer membrane receptor ShuA from S. dysenteriae. ShuA binds to hemoglobin and transports heme across the outer membrane. The structure consists of a C-terminal domain that folds into a 22-stranded transmembrane beta-barrel, which is filled by the N-terminal plug domain. One distal histidine ligand of heme is located at the apex of the plug, exposed to the solvent. His86 is situated 9.86 A apart from His420, the second histidine involved in the heme binding. His420 is in the extracellular loop L7. The heme coordination by His86 and His420 involves conformational changes. The comparisons with the hemophore receptor HasR of Serratia marcescens bound to HasA-Heme suggest an extracellular induced fit mechanism for the heme binding. The loop L7 contains hydrophobic residues which could interact with the hydrophobic porphyring ring of heme. The energy required for the transport by ShuA is derived from the proton motive force after interactions between the periplasmic N-terminal TonB-box of ShuA and the inner membrane protein, TonB. In ShuA, the TonB-box is buried and cannot interact with TonB. The structural comparisons with HasR suggest its conformational change upon the heme binding for interacting with TonB. The signaling of the heme binding could involve a hydrogen bond network going from His86 to the TonB-box.