Structural basis for solute transport, nucleotide regulation, and immunological recognition of Neisseria meningitidis PorB. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • PorB is the second most prevalent outer membrane protein in Neisseria meningitidis. PorB is required for neisserial pathogenesis and can elicit a Toll-like receptor mediated host immune response. Here, the x-ray crystal structure of PorB has been determined to 2.3 A resolution. Structural analysis and cocrystallization studies identify three putative solute translocation pathways through the channel pore: One pathway transports anions nonselectively, one transports cations nonselectively, and one facilitates the specific uptake of sugars. During infection, PorB likely binds host mitochondrial ATP, and cocrystallization with the ATP analog AMP-PNP suggests that binding of nucleotides regulates these translocation pathways both by partial occlusion of the pore and by restricting the motion of a putative voltage gating loop. PorB is located on the surface of N. meningitidis and can be recognized by receptors of the host innate immune system. Features of PorB suggest that Toll-like receptor mediated recognition outer membrane proteins may be initiated with a nonspecific electrostatic attraction.

publication date

  • March 29, 2010

Research

keywords

  • Neisseria meningitidis
  • Porins

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC2872391

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 77951057326

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1073/pnas.0912115107

PubMed ID

  • 20351243

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 107

issue

  • 15