Abstract
The molecular basis for recognition of nonnative proteins by the molecular chaperone SecB was investigated with an in vitro assay based on the protection of SecB from proteolysis when a ligand is bound. The SecB tetramer has multiple binding sites for positively charged peptides. When the peptide binding sites are occupied, the complex undergoes a conformational change to expose hydrophobic sites that bind the fluorescent probe 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate. A model is proposed for interaction of nonnative polypeptides with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic sites on SecB.