Backbone dynamics of receptor binding and antigenic regions of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa pilin monomer

Abstract

Pilin is the major structural protein that forms type IV pili of various pathogenic bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pilin is involved in attachment of the bacterium to host cells during infection, in the initiation of immune response, and serves as a receptor for a variety of bacteriophage. We have used 15N nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation measurements to probe the backbone dynamics of an N-terminally truncated monomeric pilin from P. aeruginosa strain K122-4. 15N-T1, -T2, and {1H}-15N nuclear Overhauser enhancement measurements were carried out at three magnetic field strengths. The measurements were interpreted using the Lipari-Szabo model-free analysis, which reveals the ..