THE GA MODULE, A MOBILE ALBUMIN-BINDING BACTERIAL DOMAIN, ADOPTS A 3-HELIX-BUNDLE STRUCTURE

We present the first study of the secondary structure and global fold of an albumin-binding domain, Our data show that the GA module from protein PAB, an albumin-binding protein from the anaerobic bacterial species Peptostreptococcus magnus, is composed of a left-handed three-helix bundle, The helical regions were identified by sequential and medium range NOEs, values of NH-(CH)-H-alpha coupling constants, chemical shift indices, and the presence of slowly exchanging amide protons, as determined by NMR spectroscopy. In addition, circular dichroism studies show that the module is remarkably stable with respect to both pH and temperature.