Journal article
Structure of an Odorant-Binding protein from the Mosquito Aedes aegypti suggests a binding pocket covered by a pH-sensitive “Lid”
PLoS ONE, Vol.4(11)
2009
Abstract
Background
The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, is the primary vector for the viruses that cause yellow fever, mostly in tropical regions of Africa and in parts of South America, and human dengue, which infects 100 million people yearly in the tropics and subtropics. A better understanding of the structural biology of olfactory proteins may pave the way for the development of environmentally-friendly mosquito attractants and repellents, which may ultimately contribute to reduction of mosquito biting and disease transmission.
Methodology
Previously, we isolated and cloned a major, female-enriched odorant-binding protein (OBP) from the yellow fever mosquito, AaegOBP1, which was later inadvertently renamed AaegOBP39. We prepared recombinant samples of AaegOBP1 by using an expression system that allows proper formation of disulfide bridges and generates functional OBPs, which are indistinguishable from native OBPs. We crystallized AaegOBP1 and determined its three-dimensional structure at 1.85 Å resolution by molecular replacement based on the structure of the malaria mosquito OBP, AgamOBP1, the only mosquito OBP structure known to date.
Conclusion
The structure of AaegOBP1 ( = AaegOBP39) shares the common fold of insect OBPs with six α-helices knitted by three disulfide bonds. A long molecule of polyethylene glycol (PEG) was built into the electron-density maps identified in a long tunnel formed by a crystallographic dimer of AaegOBP1. Circular dichroism analysis indicated that delipidated AaegOBP1 undergoes a pH-dependent conformational change, which may lead to release of odorant at low pH (as in the environment in the vicinity of odorant receptors). A C-terminal loop covers the binding cavity and this “lid” may be opened by disruption of an array of acid-labile hydrogen bonds thus explaining reduced or no binding affinity at low pH.
Details
- Title
- Structure of an Odorant-Binding protein from the Mosquito Aedes aegypti suggests a binding pocket covered by a pH-sensitive “Lid”
- Authors/Creators
- N.R. Leite (Author/Creator) - Universidade Federal de São CarlosR. Krogh (Author/Creator) - Universidade Federal de São CarlosW. Xu (Author/Creator) - University of California, DavisY. Ishida (Author/Creator) - University of California, DavisJ. Lulek (Author/Creator)W.S. Leal (Author/Creator) - University of California, DavisG. Oliva (Author/Creator) - Universidade Federal de São Carlos
- Publication Details
- PLoS ONE, Vol.4(11)
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Identifiers
- 991005543429507891
- Copyright
- © 2009 Leite et al.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Murdoch University
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.220 Smell & Taste Science
- 3.220.701 Olfactory Systems
- Web Of Science research areas
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
- ESI research areas
- Biology & Biochemistry