Author(s): Christophe Guillon, Ulrick Mavoungou Bigouagou, Christelle Folio, Pascale Jeannin, Yves Delneste and Patrice Gouet
Page: [248 - 255] Pages: 8
* (Excluding Mailing and Handling)
Human C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein, which harbours both host defence and scavenging properties. In this study, we obtained two new crystal forms of CRP, where CRP forms a symmetric, staggered dimer of pentamers. In one of these structures, obtained in the presence of HIV-1 Tat protein, this dimer of pentamers is stabilized by two zinc ions trapped within a cleft of the effector face of CRP. These two decameric interfaces involve complementary surfaces of CRP pentamers and bury a large area of ~2000 Å2 per pentamer, suggesting a biological role of this interface. These two novel decameric interfaces and the involvement of zinc might have important consequences in the understanding of CRP biological functions.
Keywords: Acute phase, C-reactive protein, CRP, decamer, innate immunity, pentraxin, structure, X-ray crystallography, zinc.
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