The Yeh pilus adhesin is equipped with an α-helical flap motif, which contributes to pectin adherence.

ABSTRACT: The Yeh chaperone-usher pathway (CUP) pilus adhesin is encoded in one-half of all Escherichia coli. Yet little is known about its structure and function in E. coli persistence and pathogenesis. Structural investigations reveal that the adhesin receptor binding domains (RBDs) of YehD and its relative YhlD both share a canonical β-rich core and an α-helical flap motif that is hinged at the distal end of the core. This flap was observed in both open and closed conformations using molecular dynamics simulations. The closed conformation is dependent on a hydrophobic patch of amino acids on the distal end of the flap. Functionally, YehD_RBD is able to bind pectin, a polysaccharide ubiquitous in plant material. Mutations that interrupt the closed conformation increase the

SUBMITTER: Tamadonfar KO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12778044 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature