Adhesion of the human pathogen Mycoplasma pneumoniae to pulmonary epithelial cells is mediated by a transmembrane complex composed of proteins P1 and P40/P90. Here, the authors present the structures of M. pneumoniae P1 and P40/P90, show that P40/P90 binds sialylated oligosaccharides and have also determined the crystal structures of P40/P90 complexes with 3’-Sialyllactose and 6’-Sialyllactose, which provide insights into the mechanisms of adhesion and gliding on host cell surfaces.
- David Vizarraga
- Akihiro Kawamoto
- David Aparicio
