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. 1996 May 15;316(Pt 1):29–33. doi: 10.1042/bj3160029

Discovery of a novel protein modification: alpha-glycerophosphate is a substituent of meningococcal pilin.

E Stimson 1, M Virji 1, S Barker 1, M Panico 1, I Blench 1, J Saunders 1, G Payne 1, E R Moxon 1, A Dell 1, H R Morris 1
PMCID: PMC1217337  PMID: 8645220

Abstract

Pili, which are filamentous protein structures on the surface of the meningitis-causing organism Neisseria meningitidis, are known to be post-translationally modified with substituents that affect their mobility in SDS/PAGE and which might play a crucial role in adherence and bloodstream invasion. Tryptic digests of pili were analysed by fast atom bombardment and electrospray MS to identify putative modifications. Serine-93 was found to carry a novel modification of alpha-glycerophosphate. This is the first time that alpha-glycerophosphate has been observed as a substituent of a prokaryotic or eukaryotic protein.

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Selected References

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