Understanding the proteins which excrete alginate are made will allow for more targeted treatment of bacterial infection.

Jan. 12, 2023

Biofilms allow microbes to grow on almost any surface and are essential step in most chronic bacterial infections. The basis of biofilms are a complex mixture of polysaccharides with a variety of roles including cell adhesion, motility, and host immune response evasion. Researchers at the SickKids Research Institute used the CMCF-BM beamline to solve the structure of the AlgKX protein complex. Key interactions which directly bind to the alginate polysaccharide were identified and a model for the AlgEKX secretory complex proposed. The research provides a foundation for understanding Pseudomonas is established in chronic cystic fibrosis and novel targets for antibacterial drug design.

PDB:: 7ULA

Gheorghita, A.A., Li, Y.E., Kitova, E.N. et al. Structure of the AlgKX modification and secretion complex required for alginate production and biofilm attachment in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Nat Commun 13, 7631 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-35131-6

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