Evidence for an elongated dimeric structure of heparin-binding haemagglutinin from M. tuberculosis

Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, C.N.R., I-80134 – Napoli, Italy; European Molecular Biology Lab, Hamburg, c/o DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22603 Hamburg, Germany; Dipartimento delle Scienze Biologiche – Sezione di Biostrutture, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", I-80134 – Napoli, Italy

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: empedone{at}unina.it. rita.berisio{at}unina.it.

	Abstract

Heparin-binding haemagglutinin, HBHA, is a virulence factor of tuberculosis which is responsible for extra-pulmonary dissemination of this disease. A thorough biochemical characterisation of HBHA has provided experimental evidence of a coiled coil nature of HBHA. These data, together with the low resolution structure of both a full-length and a truncated form of HBHA by Small Angle X-ray Scattering have unambiguously indicated that HBHA has a dimeric structure with an elongated shape.