Characterization of Treponema denticola Major Surface Protein (Msp) by Deletion Analysis and Advanced Molecular Modeling
M. Paula Goetting‐Minesky, Valentina Godovikova, Wei Zheng, J. Christopher Fenno
Abstract
hypervariability is proposed to contribute to T. pallidum immune evasion. Using a combined strategy of fine-scale mutagenesis and advanced predictive molecular modeling, we characterized the Msp protein and present a high-confidence model of its structure as an oligomer embedded in the outer membrane. This work adds to knowledge of Msp-like proteins in oral treponemes and may contribute to understanding the evolutionary and potential functional relationships between T. denticola Msp and the orthologous T. pallidum Tpr proteins.
Topics & Concepts
BiologyTreponema denticolaEpitopeTreponemaMolecular biologyGlycosylationBacterial outer membranePeptide sequenceBiochemistryGeneAntibodyVirologyBacteriaGeneticsEscherichia coliPorphyromonas gingivalisSyphilisHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)Oral microbiology and periodontitis researchHIV/AIDS oral health manifestationsSyphilis Diagnosis and Treatment