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. 1986 Nov;83(22):8585–8588. doi: 10.1073/pnas.83.22.8585

Two-dimensional crystals of cholera toxin B-subunit-receptor complexes: projected structure at 17-A resolution.

D S Ludwig, H O Ribi, G K Schoolnik, R D Kornberg
PMCID: PMC386975  PMID: 3464971

Abstract

The B subunit of cholera toxin forms two-dimensional crystals when bound to its membrane receptor, ganglioside GM1, in phospholipid layers. A rectangular crystal lattice gives diffraction extending to 15-A resolution in negative stain, and image-processing of electron micrographs reveals a ring of five protein densities. The diameter of the central hole and the outer diameter of the ring are about 20 and 60 A, respectively. These data are consistent with a pentameric, doughnut-shaped structure of the B subunit that lies flat on a membrane surface. A hexagonal crystal lattice is obtained as well, and results of image processing and chemical crosslinking allow two interpretations: the B subunit may exist in both pentameric and hexameric forms or, more likely, the hexagonal lattice may represent a disordered or liquid crystalline form, in which a pentamer undergoes rotational averaging about its 5-fold axis.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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