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Crystal structure analysis of NP24-I: a thaumatin-like protein

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Abstract

The crystal structure of NP24-I, an isoform of the thaumatin-like protein (TLP) NP24 from tomato, has been reported. A prominent acidic cleft is observed between domains I and II of the three-domain structure of this antifungal protein, a feature common to other antifungal TLPs. The defensive role of the TLPs has also been attributed to their β-1,3-glucanase activity and here too the acidic cleft is reported to play a vital role. NP24 is known to bind β-glucans and so a linear β-1,3-glucan molecule has been docked in the interdomain cleft of NP24-I. From the docked complex it is observed that the β-glucan chain is so positioned in the cleft that a Glu and Asp residue on either side of it may form a catalytic pair to cause the cleavage of a glycosidic bond. NP24 has been reported to be an allergenic protein and an allergenic motif could be identified on the surface of the helical domain II of NP24-I. In addition, some allergenic motifs bearing high similarity/identity with some predicted Ig-E binding motifs of closely related allergenic TLPs like Jun a 3 (Juniperus ashei, from mountain cedar pollen) and banana-TLP have been identified on the molecular surface of NP24-I.

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Abbreviations

TLP:

Thaumatin-like protein

PR:

Pathogenesis related

OLP:

Osmotin-like protein

CM-pachyman:

Carboxymethyl pachyman

Ig-E:

Immunoglobulin E

PEG:

Polyethylene glycol

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, 700 064, India

    Raka Ghosh & Chandana Chakrabarti

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  1. Raka Ghosh
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  2. Chandana Chakrabarti
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Correspondence to Chandana Chakrabarti.

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Ghosh, R., Chakrabarti, C. Crystal structure analysis of NP24-I: a thaumatin-like protein. Planta 228, 883–890 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-008-0790-5

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