Abstract
Caf1 of the plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis is a polymeric virulence factor and vaccine component, formed from monomers by a donor strand exchange (DSE) mechanism. Here, EM images of Caf1 reveal flexible polymers up to 1.5 microm long (4MDa). The bead-like structures along the polymer are 5.8 + or - 1 nm long and correspond to single Caf1 proteins. Short polymers often form circles, presumably by DSE. We also provide the first images of proteins bound to alhydrogel adjuvant. Caf1, hemocyanin and anthrax PA are all resolved clearly and Caf1 exhibits adjuvant bound stretches with long intervening loops draped from the edges.
Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adjuvants, Immunologic*
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Antigens, Bacterial / chemistry*
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Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
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Antigens, Bacterial / ultrastructure
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Bacterial Capsules / chemistry
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Bacterial Capsules / immunology
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Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
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Bacterial Proteins / immunology
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Bacterial Proteins / ultrastructure
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Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
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Models, Molecular
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Plague / prevention & control
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Plague Vaccine / immunology
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Polymers / chemistry*
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Protein Folding
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Protein Structure, Quaternary
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Virulence Factors / chemistry*
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Virulence Factors / immunology
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Yersinia pestis / chemistry
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Yersinia pestis / immunology
Substances
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Adjuvants, Immunologic
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Antigens, Bacterial
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Bacterial Proteins
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Plague Vaccine
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Polymers
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Virulence Factors
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caf1 protein, Yersinia pestis