Characterisation of the interaction of colicin A with its co-receptor TolA

Colicin A enters Escherichia coli cells through interaction with endogenous TolA and TolB proteins. In vitro, binding of the colicin A translocation domain to TolA leads to unfolding of TolA. Through NMR studies of the colicin A translocation domain and polypeptides representing the individual TolA and TolB binding epitopes of colicin A we question if the unfolding of TolA induced by colicin A is likely to be physiologically relevant. The NMR data further reveals that the colicin A binding site on TolA is different from that for colicin N which explains why there is a difference in colicin toxicity for E. coli carrying a TolA-III homologue from Yersina enterocolitica in place of its own TolA-III.