Proteins fold into their functional three-dimensional structure based on the information encoded in the residue sequence 1 . In all domains of life, various strategies evolved to assist folding processes in order to prevent immediate misfolding and aggregation of the nascent polypeptide chain. In the crowded cellular environment, protein folding is often aided by molecular chaperones. Molecular chaperones differ in size, function and energy dependence; however, all have in common to bind to the unfolded state of the protein in order to facilitate or mediate assembly of the correct three-dimensional structure 2,3 . In contrast to molecular chaperones, the intramolecular chaperones (IMCs) constitute a different class of chaperones. As part of the polypeptide chain, the IMC is typically cleaved off the target protein after the folding process is completed. Two classes of IMCs can be distinguished: class I IMCs assist the protein to fold into the correct tertiary structure, whereas class II IMCs are involved in quaternary structure assembly 4 . In contrast to many molecular chaperones, no evidence for an ATP-driven cleavage reaction could be found in IMCs. An example of a class II intramolecular chaperone has been identified in viral tailspike and fiber proteins. These proteins are functionally unrelated but share a highly conserved chaperone domain at their C terminus (C-terminal intramolecular chaperone domain, CIMCD), which is cleaved at a conserved position in an autoproteolytic reaction 5 . It was shown that the covalent linkage between the CIMCD and N-terminal pre-protein is necessary for correct folding, indicating that an in trans function of the chaperone is impossible 5 . Furthermore, it could be shown that some of the chaperone domains are exchangeable between the different preproteins 5,6 . While the three-dimensional structures of the CIMCDs are as yet unknown, the crystal structure of N-terminally truncated mature endoNF shows that the homotrimeric enzyme comprises a triple β-helix involved in substrate recognition 7 . This triple β-helix and the related triple-β-spiral motif have been identified in various proteins, which often play a role as virulence factors 8 . In triple β-helices, three polypeptide chains wind around a common threefold symmetry axis, conferring an extraordinary stability to the protein. The rigid elongated shape allows triple β-helix-comprising proteins to protrude from a pathogen's surface in order to interact with flexible host cell receptors, like lipopolysaccharides 9 . However, proper assembly of triple-β-helical folds poses to be difficult in the absence of a trimerization domain 10 . Hence, most triple β-helices depend on a C-terminal extension for trimerization and correct assembly 11 .Here we present the crystal structures of two representatives of a large group of systematically, functionally and structurally similar intramolecular chaperones: the Escherichia coli phage K1F endosilidase CIMCD and the Bacillus subtilis phage GA-1 neck appendage protein CIMCD. Furthermore...

Gram-positive bacteria deploy type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) to facilitate horizontal gene transfer. The T4SSs of Gram-positive bacteria rely on surface adhesins as opposed to conjugative pili to facilitate mating. Enterococcus faecalis PrgB is a surface adhesin that promotes mating pair formation and robust biofilm development in an extracellular DNA (eDNA) dependent manner. Here, we report the structure of the adhesin domain of PrgB. The adhesin domain binds and compacts DNA in vitro. In vivo PrgB deleted of its adhesin domain does not support cellular aggregation, biofilm development and conjugative DNA transfer. PrgB also binds lipoteichoic acid (LTA), which competes with DNA binding. We propose that PrgB binding and compaction of eDNA facilitates cell aggregation and plays an important role in establishment of early biofilms in mono- or polyspecies settings. Within these biofilms, PrgB mediates formation and stabilization of direct cell-cell contacts through alternative binding of cell-bound LTA, which in turn promotes establishment of productive mating junctions and efficient intra- or inter-species T4SS-mediated gene transfer.

Keywords: Carbocations / FelkinϪAnh model / Lewis acids / Silanes / TetrahydrofuranMonosubstituted γ-lactols 1a−1c, 3a−3c and 4a−4c, as well as disubstituted γ-lactol 5 and the γ-hydroxy-substituted γ-lactone 6, were transformed into disubstituted tetrahydrofuran derivatives by treatment with allyl-and propargylsilanes in the presence of Lewis acids. The diastereoselectivities were moderate to excellent and are interpreted by applica-

The DEAH-box ATPase Prp2 is a key player during pre-mRNA splicing. Here, the first four crystal structures of this spliceosomal factor are reported in two different states, and the flexibility of its C-terminal domains and a previously undescribed ADP conformation are reported.

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