Crystallization and initial crystallographic analysis of AafA: the major adhesive subunit of the enteroaggregative Escherichia coli AAF/II pilus

AafA is the major adhesive pilin subunit of the aggregative adherence fimbriae (AAF) from enteroaggregative Escherichia coli, which play an important role by attaching to the host cells during the initial phase of bacterial colonization and invasion. AafA has been crystallized at pH 3.4 and diffraction data have been collected to 2.1 A resolution. Molecular replacement was unsuccessful and selenomethionine-substituted protein and heavy-atom derivatives are being prepared for phasing.