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Structural And Biophysical Characterization Of Staphylococcus Aureus Samazf Shows Conservation Of Functional Dynamics, Valentina Zorzini, Lieven Buts, Mike Sleutel, Abel Garcia-Pino, Ariel Talavera, Sarah Haesaerts, Henri De Greve, Ambrose Cheung, Nico A. J. Van Nuland, Remy Loris

Dartmouth Scholarship

The Staphylococcus aureus genome contains three toxin-antitoxin modules, including one mazEF module, SamazEF. Using an on-column separation protocol we are able to obtain large amounts of wild-type SaMazF toxin. The protein is well-folded and highly resistant against thermal unfolding but aggregates at elevated temperatures. Crystallographic and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) solution studies show a well-defined dimer. Differences in structure and dynamics between the X-ray and NMR structural ensembles are found in three loop regions, two of which undergo motions that are of functional relevance. The same segments also show functionally relevant dynamics in the distantly related CcdB family despite divergence …