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Infect. Immun., 06 1995, 2194-2200, Vol 63, No. 6
C Elkins, CJ Chen and CE Thomas
Haemophilus ducreyi can bind hemoglobin and use it as a source of heme, for
which it has an obligate requirement. We previously identified and purified
HgbA, a hemoglobin-binding outer membrane protein from H. ducreyi. In this
report, we describe the molecular cloning, expression, DNA sequence, and
mutagenesis of the structural gene for HgbA, hgbA. H. ducreyi and
recombinant Escherichia coli expressing hgbA bound [125I]hemoglobin,
establishing HgbA as a receptor. Insertions or deletions in the cloned hgbA
gene abolished expression of HgbA and hemoglobin binding in E. coli.
Mutagenesis of H. ducreyi by allelic exchange of insertions into hgbA
abolished its ability to bind [125I]hemoglobin or utilize hemoglobin as a
source of heme. The deduced protein sequence was similar to those of the
TonB-dependent family of outer membrane receptors. The most similar member
was HutA (heme receptor) from Vibrio cholerae. Tbp1 and Lbp1 (transferrin
and lactoferrin receptors, respectively, from pathogenic Neisseria spp.)
also showed very significant homology. Thus, by characterizing the hgbA
locus, this work elucidates a potentially important role of HgbA in
obtaining heme and/or iron from the host.
Copyright © 1995, American Society for Microbiology
Characterization of the hgbA locus encoding a hemoglobin receptor from Haemophilus ducreyi
Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599, USA.
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