Mapping the ligand-binding region of Borrelia burgdorferi fibronectin-binding protein BBK32.

ABSTRACT: The cellular attachment and entry of pathogenic microorganisms can be facilitated by the expression of microbial adhesins that bind fibronectin. We have previously described a Borrelia burgdorferi gene, bbk32, that encodes a 47-kDa fibronectin-binding protein. In this study, the ligand-binding region of BBK32 from B. burgdorferi isolate B31 was localized to 32 amino acids. The bbk32 gene was cloned and sequenced from three additional B. burgdorferi isolates representing different genospecies of B. burgdorferi sensu lato. All four bbk32 genes encoded proteins having fibronectin-binding activity when expressed in Escherichia coli, and the deduced proteins shared 81 to 91% amino acid sequence identity within the ligand-binding domain. In addition, the ligand-binding region of BBK32 was found

SUBMITTER: Probert WS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC98480 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature