A neuraminidase from Streptococcus pneumoniae has the features of a surface protein
Year: 1994
Type: article
Abstract: A gene from Streptococcus pneumoniae (nanA), with features entirely consistent with a neuraminidase gene, has been sequenced. High levels of neuraminidase activity were obtained after cloning of this gene, without flanking sequences, into a high-expression vector. RNA hybridization studies have shown that the gene is transcribed by a virulent pneumococcus strain. The predicted molecular weight of the protein and certain amino acid sequences are typical of other neuraminidases. NanA contains the four copies of the sequence SXDXGXTW that is present in all the bacterial neuraminidases previously described. Kyte and Doolittle analysis showed that NanA is a hydrophilic protein with hydrophobic domains at the N terminus and the C terminus. A putative signal peptide was found in the N terminus of this protein, indicating that the protein is exported from the pneumococcus. The C terminus has the features of the anchor motif found in other surface proteins from gram-positive bacteria. Electron microscopy studies showed the presence of neuraminidase associated with the cell surface of the pneumococcus.
Source: Infection and Immunity
Authors: M Cámara, G J Boulnois, P W Andrew, T J Mitchell
Institution: University of Leicester
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Wellcome Trust
OpenAlex ID: W2148637247