Maltose-binding protein (MBP) (MBP)

Maltose-binding protein (MBP) is a 42.5 kDa periplasmic protein primarily found in Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, where it is encoded by the malE gene (UniProt: P0AEX9). It serves as a crucial component of the maltose/maltodextrin transport system, binding these carbohydrates with high affinity and delivering them to the MalFGK2 ABC transporter for translocation across the cytoplasmic membrane (PubMed: 16452471). Beyond its transport role, MBP acts as a primary chemoreceptor that triggers bacterial chemotaxis toward maltose by interacting with the Tar protein (PubMed: 6270604). In biotechnology and molecular biology, MBP is widely utilized as a fusion partner to enhance the solubility and facilitate the proper folding of recombinant proteins (PubMed: 10445867). While not a primary therapeutic target for human diseases, its essential role in bacterial survival makes it a subject of interest in antimicrobial research. It is also frequently employed as a carrier protein in vaccine development to increase the immunogenicity of antigens (PubMed: 11544354).

Other names

MalEPeriplasmic maltose-binding proteinMaltodextrin-binding proteinMaltose-binding periplasmic protein

Not applicable as there are no approved drugs targeting this protein.