Structure and function of the complex formed by the tuberculosis virulence factors CFP-10 and ESAT-6.

Abstract	The secreted Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex proteins CFP-10 and ESAT-6 have recently been shown to play an essential role in tuberculosis pathogenesis. We have determined the solution structure of the tight, 1:1 complex formed by CFP-10 and ESAT-6, and employed fluorescence microscopy to demonstrate specific binding of the complex to the surface of macrophage and monocyte cells. A striking feature of the complex is the long flexible arm formed by the C-terminus of CFP-10, which was found to be essential for binding to the surface of cells. The surface features of the CFP-10.ESAT-6 complex, together with observed binding to specific host cells, strongly suggest a key signalling role for the complex, in which binding to cell surface receptors leads to modulation of host cell behaviour to the advantage of the pathogen.
Authors	Philip S Renshaw, Kirsty L Lightbody, Vaclav Veverka, Fred W Muskett, Geoff Kelly, Thomas A Frenkiel, Stephen V Gordon, R Glyn Hewinson, Bernard Burke, Jim Norman, Richard A Williamson, Mark D Carr
Journal	The EMBO journal (EMBO J) Vol. 24 Issue 14 Pg. 2491-8 (Jul 20 2005) ISSN: 0261-4189 [Print] England
PMID	15973432 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References	Antigens, Bacterial Bacterial Proteins CFP-10 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis ESAT-6 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis Virulence Factors
Topics	Amino Acid Sequence Animals Antigens, Bacterial (chemistry, metabolism, physiology) Bacterial Proteins (chemistry, metabolism, physiology) COS Cells Cell Lineage Cell Membrane (metabolism) Cells, Cultured Chlorocebus aethiops Humans Mice Molecular Sequence Data Monocytes (metabolism) NIH 3T3 Cells Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular Protein Binding Protein Structure, Tertiary Signal Transduction (physiology) Structure-Activity Relationship U937 Cells Virulence Factors (chemistry, physiology)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.

Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!