The pathogenic bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis causes periodontal disease and depends on porphyrin from host sources. Here the authors show that the P. gingivalis haem uptake system protein A (HusA) mediates the uptake of exogenous porphyrin, present its solution NMR structure and show how HusA can be exploited as a drug target.
- Jin-Long Gao
- Ann H. Kwan
- Neil Hunter
