The B-subunit of Shiga toxin has been demonstrated as a powerful vector for carrying attached peptides into cells for intracellular transport studies and for medical research. We have investigated the structure of the B-subunit and of a chimera bearing a peptide extension, bound to the membranous lipidic receptor, the globotriaosylceramide (Gb3). Two-dimensional crystals of both B-subunits have been obtained by the lipid layer method and projection maps have been calculated at 8.5 Angstrom resolution from ice-embedded samples. The B-subunits as the chimera are organized in a pentameric form similar to the X-ray structure of the B-subunit not bound to Gb3. A difference map of both proteins has been calculated in which no density could be attributed to the peptide extension. Cross-correlations with projections of the B-subunit X-ray structure revealed that pentamers in the 2D crystals were oriented with their binding sites pointing to the lipid layer. Thus, it is likely that the peptide extension was disordered and confined to the surface of the pentamer opposite to the Gb3 binding sites. This location confirms the hypothesis that addition of peptide extension to the C-terminus conserves the ability of the modified B-subunit to bind the membranous receptor Gb3. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.