Expression, purification, crystallization and crystallographic analysis of the N-terminal domain of translocated intimin receptor

Translocated intimin receptor (Tir) is an Escherichia coli-encoded protein that is transported into the host cell through a sophisticated bacterial type III secretion system (T3SS). Tir anchors the infected cell membrane twice using both its N- and C-termini from inside the host cytoplasm for signalling. It plays a key role in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infection, attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions and intracellular signal transduction. Here, the overexpression, purification and crystallization of its N-terminal intracellular domain are reported. The crystal belonged to the orthorhombic space group I4₁22, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 59.79, c = 183.11 Å. The asymmetric unit contained one molecule, with a solvent content of 51% and a V_M of 2.55 Å³ Da^-1.