The scc spirochetal coiled-coil protein forms helix-like filaments and binds to nucleic acids generating nucleoprotein structures.

ABSTRACT: The analysis of the genome of Leptospira spp., a group of bacteria of the phylum of spirochetes with several unique evolutionary and morphological features, has allowed the identification of a gene encoding a coiled-coil protein, called Scc, which is completely unrelated to any other eukaryotic or prokaryotic protein. Since coiled-coil proteins are often key elements of the cytoskeleton, we analyzed the protein Scc, which is a 24-kDa protein composed of a N-terminal coiled-coil domain, a proline-rich intermediate domain, and an acidic tail. The gene scc is located in an operon which also contains the genes encoding the initiation factor IF3 and the two ribosomal proteins L20 and L35. In this study, we showed that the presence of the coiled-coil domain was responsible for the polymerization

SUBMITTER: Mazouni K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1347299 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature