Heterogeneous nucleation is required for crystallization of the ZnuA domain of pneumococcal AdcA

Zn 2+ is an essential nutrient for all known forms of life. In the major human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae , the acquisition of Zn 2+ is facilitated by two Zn 2+ -specific solute-binding proteins: AdcA and AdcAII. To date, there has been a paucity of structural information on AdcA, which has hindered a deeper understanding of the mechanism underlying pneumococcal Zn 2+ acquisition. Native AdcA consists of two domains: an N-terminal ZnuA...