Manganese-binding lipoprotein MntC (MntC) (MntC)

Manganese-binding lipoprotein MntC is a critical cell-surface component of the MntABC ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter system in Staphylococcus aureus (UniProt P0A0H3). It functions as a high-affinity solute-binding protein that captures essential manganese (Mn2+) ions from the host environment, even under conditions of extreme metal limitation imposed by host nutritional immunity (PubMed: 25691600). Manganese is a vital cofactor for bacterial enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, which are necessary for neutralizing reactive oxygen species and surviving the host's oxidative burst during infection (PubMed: 15150225). Due to its high conservation across clinical isolates and its accessibility on the bacterial surface, MntC has been a primary target for multi-antigen vaccine development, such as the SA4Ag candidate (PubMed: 28457771). While small-molecule inhibitors are less common, targeting MntC aims to starve the pathogen of essential nutrients or provide a handle for immune-mediated clearance (PubMed: 24595231). The protein's structure, characterized by a cluster of four alpha-helices surrounding a metal-binding site, makes it a highly specific and stable target for therapeutic intervention (PDB 4XU1).

Other names

Manganese-binding protein MntCMntCABC transporter manganese-binding proteinSA0596SitA-like proteinStaphylococcus aureus manganese transporter C

MntC serves as a vaccine antigen to induce neutralizing antibodies that facilitate opsonophagocytic killing of Staphylococcus aureus and potentially block manganese acquisition, thereby impairing bacterial defense against oxidative stress (PubMed: 25691600, PubMed: 28457771).