Abstract

Pili, assembled from pilin subunits, are fibers on the surface of bacteria that allow attachment to cell surfaces. John Tainer's group (at Scripps) have used x-ray crystallography to determine the atomic structure of pilin from Neisseria gonorrhea. Pilin has a modular design with a striking 85 `-helical spine that merges with a globular `- roll. In collaboration with his group, we are using cryo-EM and helical image processing to derive a molecular envelope for the gonoccocal pilus in which the atomic model can be docked. Mass/length measurements by the STEM are being used to evaluate different packing models for the pilin subunits within the fibers.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Type
Biotechnology Resource Grants (P41)
Project #
5P41RR001777-13
Application #
5223605
Study Section
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
Budget End
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
1996
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Publications

Hind, Geoffrey; Wall, Joseph S; Várkonyi, Zsuzsanna et al. (2014) Membrane crystals of plant light-harvesting complex II disassemble reversibly in light. Plant Cell Physiol 55:1296-303
Garofalo, Robert; Mustanski, Brian; Johnson, Amy et al. (2010) Exploring factors that underlie racial/ethnic disparities in HIV risk among young men who have sex with men. J Urban Health 87:318-323
Joshi, V N; Mitra, D; England, M D et al. (2010) Large Covalently Linked Fluorescent and Gold Nanoparticle Immunoprobes. Microsc Microanal 16:966-967
Ackerson, Christopher J; Powell, Richard D; Hainfeld, James F (2010) Site-specific biomolecule labeling with gold clusters. Methods Enzymol 481:195-230
Hu, Minghui; Zhang, Yian-Biao; Qian, Luping et al. (2008) Three-dimensional structure of human chromatin accessibility complex hCHRAC by electron microscopy. J Struct Biol 164:263-9
Hu, Minghui; Qian, Luping; Brinas, Raymond P et al. (2008) Gold nanoparticle-protein arrays improve resolution for cryo-electron microscopy. J Struct Biol 161:83-91
Garofalo, Robert; Mustanski, Brian; Donenberg, Geri (2008) Parents know and parents matter;is it time to develop family-based HIV prevention programs for young men who have sex with men? J Adolesc Health 43:201-4
Brinas, Raymond P; Hu, Minghui; Qian, Luping et al. (2008) Gold nanoparticle size controlled by polymeric Au(I) thiolate precursor size. J Am Chem Soc 130:975-82
Garofalo, Robert; Mustanski, Brian S; McKirnan, David J et al. (2007) Methamphetamine and young men who have sex with men: understanding patterns and correlates of use and the association with HIV-related sexual risk. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 161:591-6
Mustanski, Brian; Garofalo, Robert; Herrick, Amy et al. (2007) Psychosocial health problems increase risk for HIV among urban young men who have sex with men: preliminary evidence of a syndemic in need of attention. Ann Behav Med 34:37-45

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