1
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Prajapati A, Palva A, von Ossowski I, Krishnan V. The crystal structure of the N-terminal domain of the backbone pilin LrpA reveals a new closure-and-twist motion for assembling dynamic pili in Ligilactobacillus ruminis. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2024; 80:474-492. [PMID: 38935340 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798324005114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Sortase-dependent pili are long surface appendages that mediate attachment, colonization and biofilm formation in certain genera and species of Gram-positive bacteria. Ligilactobacillus ruminis is an autochthonous gut commensal that relies on sortase-dependent LrpCBA pili for host adherence and persistence. X-ray crystal structure snapshots of the backbone pilin LrpA were captured in two atypical bent conformations leading to a zigzag morphology in the LrpCBA pilus structure. Small-angle X-ray scattering and structural analysis revealed that LrpA also adopts the typical linear conformation, resulting in an elongated pilus morphology. Various conformational analyses and biophysical experiments helped to demonstrate that a hinge region located at the end of the flexible N-terminal domain of LrpA facilitates a new closure-and-twist motion for assembling dynamic pili during the assembly process and host attachment. Further, the incongruent combination of flexible domain-driven conformational dynamics and rigid isopeptide bond-driven stability observed in the LrpCBA pilus might also extend to the sortase-dependent pili of other bacteria colonizing a host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amar Prajapati
- Laboratory of Structural Microbiology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR, Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad 121 001, India
| | - Airi Palva
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Vengadesan Krishnan
- Laboratory of Structural Microbiology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR, Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad 121 001, India
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2
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Sue CK, Cheung NA, Mahoney BJ, McConnell SA, Scully JM, Fu JY, Chang C, Ton-That H, Loo JA, Clubb RT. The basal and major pilins in the Corynebacterium diphtheriae SpaA pilus adopt similar structures that competitively react with the pilin polymerase. Biopolymers 2024; 115:e23539. [PMID: 37227047 PMCID: PMC11164409 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Many species of pathogenic gram-positive bacteria display covalently crosslinked protein polymers (called pili or fimbriae) that mediate microbial adhesion to host tissues. These structures are assembled by pilus-specific sortase enzymes that join the pilin components together via lysine-isopeptide bonds. The archetypal SpaA pilus from Corynebacterium diphtheriae is built by the Cd SrtA pilus-specific sortase, which crosslinks lysine residues within the SpaA and SpaB pilins to build the shaft and base of the pilus, respectively. Here, we show that Cd SrtA crosslinks SpaB to SpaA via a K139(SpaB)-T494(SpaA) lysine-isopeptide bond. Despite sharing only limited sequence homology, an NMR structure of SpaB reveals striking similarities with the N-terminal domain of SpaA (N SpaA) that is also crosslinked by Cd SrtA. In particular, both pilins contain similarly positioned reactive lysine residues and adjacent disordered AB loops that are predicted to be involved in the recently proposed "latch" mechanism of isopeptide bond formation. Competition experiments using an inactive SpaB variant and additional NMR studies suggest that SpaB terminates SpaA polymerization by outcompeting N SpaA for access to a shared thioester enzyme-substrate reaction intermediate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher K. Sue
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics
| | - Nicole A. Cheung
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics
- Molecular Biology Institute
| | - Brendan J. Mahoney
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics
| | - Scott A. McConnell
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics
| | - Jack M. Scully
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics
| | - Janine Y. Fu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics
| | - Chungyu Chang
- Molecular Biology Institute
- Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 611 Charles Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Hung Ton-That
- Molecular Biology Institute
- Division of Oral and Systemic Health Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 611 Charles Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Joseph A. Loo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics
- Molecular Biology Institute
| | - Robert T. Clubb
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- UCLA-DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics
- Molecular Biology Institute
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3
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Sue CK, Cheung NA, Mahoney BJ, McConnell SA, Scully JM, Fu JY, Chang C, Ton-That H, Loo JA, Clubb RT. The Basal and Major Pilins in the Corynebacterium diphtheriae SpaA Pilus Adopt Similar Structures that Competitively React with the Pilin Polymerase. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.23.529612. [PMID: 36865106 PMCID: PMC9980135 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.23.529612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Many species of pathogenic gram-positive bacteria display covalently crosslinked protein polymers (called pili or fimbriae) that mediate microbial adhesion to host tissues. These structures are assembled by pilus-specific sortase enzymes that join the pilin components together via lysine-isopeptide bonds. The archetypal SpaA pilus from Corynebacterium diphtheriae is built by the Cd SrtA pilus-specific sortase, which crosslinks lysine residues within the SpaA and SpaB pilins to build the shaft and base of the pilus, respectively. Here, we show that Cd SrtA crosslinks SpaB to SpaA via a K139(SpaB)-T494(SpaA) lysine-isopeptide bond. Despite sharing only limited sequence homology, an NMR structure of SpaB reveals striking similarities with the N-terminal domain of SpaA ( N SpaA) that is also crosslinked by Cd SrtA. In particular, both pilins contain similarly positioned reactive lysine residues and adjacent disordered AB loops that are predicted to be involved in the recently proposed "latch" mechanism of isopeptide bond formation. Competition experiments using an inactive SpaB variant and additional NMR studies suggest that SpaB terminates SpaA polymerization by outcompeting N SpaA for access to a shared thioester enzyme-substrate reaction intermediate.
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4
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Sande MG, Roque L, Braga A, Marques M, Ferreira D, Saragliadis A, Rodrigues JL, Linke D, Ramada D, Silva C, Rodrigues LR. Design of new hydrolyzed collagen-modified magnetic nanoparticles to capture pathogens. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2023; 111:354-365. [PMID: 36063491 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.35155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Enrichment and diagnosis tools for pathogens currently available are time consuming, thus the development of fast and highly sensitive alternatives is desirable. In this study, a novel approach was described that enables selective capture of bacteria expressing hydrolyzed collagen-binding adhesins with hydrolyzed collagen-coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). This platform could be useful to shorten the time needed to confirm the presence of a bacterial infection. MNPs were synthesized by a simple two-step approach through a green co-precipitation method using water as solvent. These MNPs were specifically designed to interact with pathogenic bacteria by establishing a hydrolyzed collagen-adhesin linker. The bacterial capture efficacy of hydrolyzed collagen MNPs (H-Coll@MNPs) for bacteria expressing collagen binding adhesins was 1.3 times higher than that of arginine MNPs (Arg@MNPs), herein used as control. More importantly, after optimization of the MNP concentration and contact time, the H-Coll@MNPs were able to capture 95% of bacteria present in the samples. More importantly, the bacteria can be enriched within 30 min and the time for bacterial identification is effectively shortened in comparison to the "gold standard" in clinical diagnosis. These results suggest that H-Coll@MNPs can be used for the selective isolation of specific bacteria from mixed populations present, for example, in biological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Sande
- CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal.,LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Lúcia Roque
- CENTI-Center for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
| | - Adelaide Braga
- CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal.,LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Márcia Marques
- CENTI-Center for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
| | - Débora Ferreira
- CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal.,LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Athanasios Saragliadis
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Joana L Rodrigues
- CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal.,LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Dirk Linke
- Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - David Ramada
- CENTI-Center for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
| | - Carla Silva
- CENTI-Center for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal.,CITEVE-Technological Center for the Textile and Clothing Industries of Portugal, Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
| | - Lígia R Rodrigues
- CEB-Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal.,LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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5
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Yadav RK, Krishnan V. New structural insights into the
PI
‐2 pilus from
Streptococcus oralis
, an early dental plaque colonizer. FEBS J 2022; 289:6342-6366. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.16527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rajnesh Kumari Yadav
- Laboratory of Structural Microbiology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology NCR Biotech Science Cluster Faridabad India
- School of Biotechnology KIIT University Odisha India
| | - Vengadesan Krishnan
- Laboratory of Structural Microbiology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology NCR Biotech Science Cluster Faridabad India
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6
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Large-Scale Discovery of Microbial Fibrillar Adhesins and Identification of Novel Members of Adhesive Domain Families. J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0010722. [PMID: 35608365 PMCID: PMC9210967 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00107-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrillar adhesins are bacterial cell surface proteins that mediate interactions with the environment, including host cells during colonization or other bacteria during biofilm formation. These proteins are characterized by a stalk that projects the adhesive domain closer to the binding target. Fibrillar adhesins evolve quickly and thus can be difficult to computationally identify, yet they represent an important component for understanding bacterium-host interactions. To detect novel fibrillar adhesins, we developed a random forest prediction approach based on common characteristics we identified for this protein class. We applied this approach to Firmicutes and Actinobacteria proteomes, yielding over 6,500 confidently predicted fibrillar adhesins. To verify the approach, we investigated predicted fibrillar adhesins that lacked a known adhesive domain. Based on these proteins, we identified 24 sequence clusters representing potential novel members of adhesive domain families. We used AlphaFold to verify that 15 clusters showed structural similarity to known adhesive domains, such as the TED domain. Overall, our study has made a significant contribution to the number of known fibrillar adhesins and has enabled us to identify novel members of adhesive domain families involved in bacterial pathogenesis. IMPORTANCE Fibrillar adhesins are a class of bacterial cell surface proteins that enable bacteria to interact with their environment. We developed a machine learning approach to identify fibrillar adhesins and applied this classification approach to the Firmicutes and Actinobacteria Reference Proteomes database. This method allowed us to detect a high number of novel fibrillar adhesins and also novel members of adhesive domain families. To confirm our predictions of these potential adhesin protein domains, we predicted their structure using the AlphaFold tool.
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7
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Huang R, Feng H, Xu Z, Zhang N, Liu Y, Shao J, Shen Q, Zhang R. Identification of Adhesins in Plant Beneficial Rhizobacteria Bacillus velezensis SQR9 and Their Effect on Root Colonization. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2022; 35:64-72. [PMID: 34698535 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-09-21-0234-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Probiotic Bacillus colonization of plant root surfaces has been reported to improve its beneficial effect. Chemotaxis, adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation are the four steps of root colonization by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs). Compared with the other three well-studied processes, adhesion of PGPRs is less known. In this study, using mutant strains deleted for potential adhesin genes in PGPR strain Bacillus velezensis SQR9, adherence to both cucumber root surface and abiotic surface by those strains was evaluated. Results showed that deletion mutations ΔlytB, ΔV529_10500, ΔfliD, ΔyhaN, and ΔsacB reduced the adhesion to root surfaces, while, among them, only ΔfliD had significant defects in adhesion to abiotic surfaces (glass and polystyrene). In addition, B. velevzensis SQR9 mutants defective in adhesion to root surfaces showed a deficiency in rhizosphere colonization. Among the encoded proteins, FliD and YhaN played vital roles in root adhesion. This research systematically explored the potential adhesins in a well-studied PGPR strain and also indicated that adhesion progress was required for root colonization, which will help to enhance rhizosphere colonization and beneficial function of PGPRs in agricultural production.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Huang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Haichao Feng
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Zhihui Xu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Yunpeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Collection and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, P.R. China
| | - Jiahui Shao
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Qirong Shen
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, P.R. China
| | - Ruifu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Collection and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, P.R. China
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8
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Yu B, Kong D, Cheng C, Xiang D, Cao L, Liu Y, He Y. Assembly and recognition of keratins: A structural perspective. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 128:80-89. [PMID: 34654627 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Keratins are one of the major components of cytoskeletal network and assemble into fibrous structures named intermediate filaments (IFs), which are important for maintaining the mechanical properties of cells and tissues. Over the past decades, evidence has shown that the functions of keratins go beyond providing mechanical support for cells, they interact with multiple cellular components and are widely involved in the pathways of cell proliferation, differentiation, motility and death. However, the structural details of keratins and IFs are largely missing and many questions remain regarding the mechanisms of keratin assembly and recognition. Here we briefly review the current structural models and assembly of keratins as well as the interactions of keratins with the binding partners, which may provide a structural view for understanding the mechanisms of keratins in the biological activities and the related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Dandan Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongxi Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Longxing Cao
- School of Life Science, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yingbin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongning He
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
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9
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Prajapati A, Palva A, von Ossowski I, Krishnan V. LrpCBA pilus proteins of gut-dwelling Ligilactobacillus ruminis: crystallization and X-ray diffraction analysis. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2021; 77:238-245. [PMID: 34341189 PMCID: PMC8329715 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x21007263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Adhesion to host surfaces for bacterial survival and colonization involves a variety of molecular mechanisms. Ligilactobacillus ruminis, a strict anaerobe and gut autochthonous (indigenous) commensal, relies on sortase-dependent pili (LrpCBA) for adherence to the intestinal inner walls, thereby withstanding luminal content flow. Here, the LrpCBA pilus is a promiscuous binder to gut collagen, fibronectin and epithelial cells. Structurally, the LrpCBA pilus displays a representative hetero-oligomeric arrangement and consists of three types of pilin subunit, each with its own location and function, i.e. tip LrpC for adhesion, basal LrpB for anchoring and backbone LrpA for length. To provide further structural insights into the assembly, anchoring and functional mechanisms of sortase-dependent pili, each of the L. ruminis pilus proteins was produced recombinantly for crystallization and X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystals of LrpC, LrpB, LrpA and truncated LrpA generated by limited proteolysis were obtained and diffracted to resolutions of 3.0, 1.5, 2.2 and 1.4 Å, respectively. Anomalous data were also collected from crystals of selenomethionine-substituted LrpC and an iodide derivative of truncated LrpA. Successful strategies for protein production, crystallization and derivatization are reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amar Prajapati
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad 121 001, India
| | - Airi Palva
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Vengadesan Krishnan
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad 121 001, India
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10
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Exploiting pilus-mediated bacteria-host interactions for health benefits. Mol Aspects Med 2021; 81:100998. [PMID: 34294411 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2021.100998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Surface pili (or fimbriae) are an important but conspicuous adaptation of several genera and species of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. These long and non-flagellar multi-subunit adhesins mediate the initial contact that a bacterium has with a host or environment, and thus have come to be regarded as a key colonization factor for virulence activity in pathogens or niche adaptation in commensals. Pili in pathogenic bacteria are well recognized for their roles in the adhesion to host cells, colonization of tissues, and establishment of infection. As an 'anti-adhesive' ploy, targeting pilus-mediated attachment for disruption has become a potentially effective alternative to using antibiotics. In this review, we give a description of the several structurally distinct bacterial pilus types thus far characterized, and as well offer details about the intricacy of their individual structure, assembly, and function. With a molecular understanding of pilus biogenesis and pilus-mediated host interactions also provided, we go on to describe some of the emerging new approaches and compounds that have been recently developed to prevent the adhesion, colonization, and infection of piliated bacterial pathogens.
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11
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Megta AK, Pratap S, Kant A, Palva A, von Ossowski I, Krishnan V. Crystal structure of the atypically adhesive SpaB basal pilus subunit: Mechanistic insights about its incorporation in lactobacillar SpaCBA pili. Curr Res Struct Biol 2020; 2:229-238. [PMID: 34235482 PMCID: PMC8244301 DOI: 10.1016/j.crstbi.2020.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
To successfully colonize a host or environment, certain genera and species of Gram-positive bacteria have evolved to utilize the so-called sortase-dependent pilus, a long multi-subunit and non-flagellar surface adhesin. One example of this is Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, a gut-adapted probiotic strain that produces SpaCBA pili. These structures are covalent hetero-oligomers built from three types of pilin subunit, each with a specific location and function (i.e., backbone SpaA for length, tip SpaC for adhesion, and basal SpaB for anchoring). Functionally, the SpaCBA pilus exhibits a promiscuous affinity for components on intestinal surfaces (e.g., mucus, collagen, and epithelial cells), which is largely attributed to the SpaC subunit. Then again, the basal SpaB pilin, in addition to acting as the terminal subunit during pilus assembly, displays an out of character mucoadhesive function. To address the structural basis of this unusual dual functionality, we reveal the 2.39 Å resolution crystal structure of SpaB. SpaB consists of one immunoglobulin-like CnaB domain and contains a putative intermolecular isopeptide bond-linking lysine and internal isopeptide bond-asparagine in an FPKN pilin motif within the C-terminal end. Remarkably, we found that a C-terminal stretch of positively charged lysine and arginine residues likely accounts for the atypical mucoadhesiveness of SpaB. Although harboring an autocatalytic triad of residues for a potential internal isopeptide interaction, the SpaB crystal structure lacked the visible electron density for intact bond formation, yet its presence was subsequently confirmed by mass spectral analysis. Finally, we propose a structural model that captures the exclusive basal positioning of SpaB in the SpaCBA pilus.
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Key Words
- ABC, ammonium bicarbonate
- ACN, acetonitrile
- Cell-wall anchoring
- Cna, collagen adhesin
- ECM, extracellular matrix
- Ig, immunoglobulin
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
- MD, molecular dynamics
- MS, mass spectrometry
- Mucus adhesion
- PDB, Protein Data Bank
- PEG, polyethylene glycol
- Probiotic
- Sortase-dependent SpaCBA pili
- SpaB basal pilin
- rmsd, root mean square deviation
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhin Kumar Megta
- Laboratory of Structural Microbiology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, India.,School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Odisha, 751024, India
| | - Shivendra Pratap
- Laboratory of Structural Microbiology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, India
| | - Abhiruchi Kant
- Laboratory of Structural Microbiology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, India.,Department of Biotechnology, Manipal University, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - Airi Palva
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Ingemar von Ossowski
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Vengadesan Krishnan
- Laboratory of Structural Microbiology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, India
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12
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Kant A, Palva A, von Ossowski I, Krishnan V. Crystal structure of lactobacillar SpaC reveals an atypical five-domain pilus tip adhesin: Exposing its substrate-binding and assembly in SpaCBA pili. J Struct Biol 2020; 211:107571. [PMID: 32653644 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2020.107571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Adhesion to cell surfaces is an essential and early prerequisite for successful host colonization by bacteria, and in most instances involves the specificities of various adhesins. Among bacterial Gram-positives, some genera and species mediate attachment to host cells by using long non-flagellar appendages called sortase-dependent pili. A case in point is the beneficial Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG gut-adapted strain that produces the so-called SpaCBA pilus, a structure noted for its promiscuous binding to intestinal mucus and collagen. Structurally, SpaCBA pili are heteropolymers of three different pilin-protein subunits, each with its own location and function in the pilus: backbone SpaA for length, basal SpaB for anchoring, and tip SpaC for adhesion. Previously, we solved the SpaA tertiary structure by X-ray crystallography and also reported on the crystallization of SpaB and SpaC. Here, we reveal the full-length high-resolution (1.9 Å) crystal structure of SpaC, a first for a sortase-dependent pilus-bearing commensal. The SpaC structure, unlike the representative four-domain architecture of other Gram-positive tip pilins, espouses an atypically longer five-domain arrangement that includes N-terminal 'binding' and C-terminal 'stalk' regions of two and three domains, respectively. With the prospect of establishing new mechanistic insights, we provide a structural basis for the multi-substrate binding nature of SpaC, as well as a structural model that reconciles its exclusive localization at the SpaCBA pilus tip.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhiruchi Kant
- Laboratory of Structural Microbiology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad 122016, India; Department of Biotechnology, Manipal University, Karnataka 576104, India
| | - Airi Palva
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Ingemar von Ossowski
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland
| | - Vengadesan Krishnan
- Laboratory of Structural Microbiology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad 122016, India.
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13
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Revitt-Mills SA, Watts TD, Lyras D, Adams V, Rood JI. The ever-expanding tcp conjugation locus of pCW3 from Clostridium perfringens. Plasmid 2020; 113:102516. [PMID: 32526229 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2020.102516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The spore-forming, anaerobic Gram positive pathogen Clostridium perfringens encodes many of its disease-causing toxins on closely related conjugative plasmids. Studies of the tetracycline resistance plasmid pCW3 have identified many of the genes involved in conjugative transfer, which are located in the tcp conjugation locus. Upstream of this locus is an uncharacterised region (the cnaC region) that is highly conserved. This study examined the importance in pCW3 conjugation of several highly conserved proteins encoded in the cnaC region. Conjugative mating studies suggested that the SrtD, TcpN and Dam proteins were required for efficient pCW3 transfer between C. perfringens cells from the same strain background. The requirement of these proteins for conjugation was amplified in matings between C. perfringens cells of different strain backgrounds. Additionally, the putative collagen adhesin protein, CnaC, was only required for the optimal transfer of pCW3 between cells of different strain backgrounds. Based on these studies we postulate that CnaC, SrtD, TcpN and Dam are involved in enhancing the transfer frequency of pCW3. These studies have led to a significant expansion of the tcp conjugation locus, which now encompasses a 19 kb region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Revitt-Mills
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Thomas D Watts
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Dena Lyras
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Vicki Adams
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Julian I Rood
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia
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14
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Çankirili NK, Kart D, Çelebi-Saltik B. Evaluation of the biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa on human umbilical cord CD146+ stem cells and stem cell-based decellularized matrix. Cell Tissue Bank 2020; 21:215-231. [PMID: 32020424 DOI: 10.1007/s10561-020-09815-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the CD146+ stem cells obtained from the human umbilical cord and their extracellular matrix proteins on in vitro Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms to understand their possible antimicrobial activity. CD146+ stem cells were determined according to cell surface markers and differentiation capacity. Characterization of the decellularized matrix was done with DAPI, Masson's Trichrome staining and proteome analysis. Cell viability/proliferation of cells in co-cultures was evaluated by WST-1 and crystal-violet staining. The effects of cells and decellularized matrix proteins on biofilms were investigated on a drip flow biofilm reactor and their effects on gene expression were determined by RT-qPCR. We observed that CD146/105+ stem cells could differentiate adipogenically and decellularized matrix showed negative DAPI and positive collagen staining with Masson' s Trichrome. Proteome analysis of the decellularized matrix revealed some matrix components and growth factors. Although the decellularized matrix significantly reduced the cell counts of P. aeruginosa, no significant difference was observed for S. aureus cells in both groups. Supporting data was obtained from the gene expression results of P. aeruginosa with the significant down-regulation of rhlR and lasR. For S. aureus, icaADBC genes were significantly up-regulated when grown on the decellularized matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Kübra Çankirili
- Department of Stem Cell Sciences, Hacettepe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 06100, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey
- Center for Stem Cell Research and Development, Hacettepe University, 06100, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Didem Kart
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Pharmacy, 06100, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Betül Çelebi-Saltik
- Department of Stem Cell Sciences, Hacettepe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 06100, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
- Center for Stem Cell Research and Development, Hacettepe University, 06100, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
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15
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García López E, Martín-Galiano AJ. The Versatility of Opportunistic Infections Caused by Gemella Isolates Is Supported by the Carriage of Virulence Factors From Multiple Origins. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:524. [PMID: 32296407 PMCID: PMC7136413 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular basis of the pathogenesis of the opportunistic invasive infections caused by isolates of the Gemella genus remains largely unknown. Moreover, inconsistencies in the current species assignation were detected after genome-level comparison of 16 public Gemella isolates. A literature search detected that, between the two most pathogenic species, Gemella morbillorum causes about twice the number of cases compared to Gemella haemolysans. These two species shared their mean diseases - sepsis and endocarditis - but differed in causing other syndromes. A number of well-known virulence factors were harbored by all species, such as a manganese transport/adhesin sharing 83% identity from oral endocarditis-causing streptococci. Likewise, all Gemellae carried the genes required for incorporating phosphorylcholine into their cell walls and encoded some choline-binding proteins. In contrast, other proteins were species-specific, which may justify the known epidemiological differences. G. haemolysans, but not G. morbillorum, harbor a gene cluster potentially encoding a polysaccharidic capsule. Species-specific surface determinants also included Rib and MucBP repeats, hemoglobin-binding NEAT domains, peptidases of C5a complement factor and domains that recognize extracellular matrix molecules exposed in damaged heart valves, such as collagen and fibronectin. Surface virulence determinants were associated with several taxonomically dispersed opportunistic genera of the oral microbiota, such as Granulicatella, Parvimonas, and Streptococcus, suggesting the existence of a horizontally transferrable gene reservoir in the oral environment, likely facilitated by close proximity in biofilms and ultimately linked to endocarditis. The identification of the Gemella virulence pool should be implemented in whole genome-based protocols to rationally predict the pathogenic potential in ongoing clinical infections caused by these poorly known bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto García López
- Departamento de Biotecnología Microbiana y de Plantas, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio J. Martín-Galiano
- Intrahospital Infections Laboratory, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, Spain
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16
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Kumar Megta A, Palva A, von Ossowski I, Krishnan V. SpaB, an atypically adhesive basal pilin from the lactobacillar SpaCBA pilus: crystallization and X-ray diffraction analysis. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2019; 75:731-737. [PMID: 31797814 PMCID: PMC6891582 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x19015358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The SpaB pilin is recognized as the basal subunit of the sortase-dependent SpaCBA pilus, which is known to be produced by the Gram-positive Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, a gut-adapted commensal advocated to have health benefits. Despite seeming to function as an archetypal basal pilin by serving as the terminal subunit in pilus assembly, SpaB also assumes an atypical role as a mucoadhesive protein. To shed light on the structural factors that contribute to this dual functional behaviour, a recombinant form of the L. rhamnosus GG SpaB pilin was produced and purified for crystallization and X-ray diffraction experiments. The crystallization of SpaB remained particularly challenging until the implementation of a three-pronged crystallization approach involving C-terminal tail truncation, surface lysine methylation and magnesium additives. Ultimately, hexagonal crystals of SpaB were produced and were able to diffract to a resolution of 2.4 Å. This crystal form belonged to space group P6522 or P6122, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 51.53, c = 408.22 Å, α = β = 90.0, γ = 120.0°. Obtaining an interpretable electron-density map via single-wavelength anomalous diffraction (SAD) using iodide-derivative data sets did not succeed owing to the weak anomalous signal. As an alternative, attempts to provide phases by molecular replacement using the iodide-SAD data from SpaB and a collection of distant homology models (<28% sequence identity) are in progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhin Kumar Megta
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana 121 001, India
- School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Odisha 751 024, India
| | - Airi Palva
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Vengadesan Krishnan
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana 121 001, India
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17
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Finke S, Fagerlund A, Smith V, Krogstad V, Zhang MJ, Saragliadis A, Linke D, Nielsen-LeRoux C, Økstad OA. Bacillus thuringiensis CbpA is a collagen binding cell surface protein under c-di-GMP control. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 5:100032. [PMID: 32803021 PMCID: PMC7423583 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcsw.2019.100032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) signalling affects several cellular processes in Bacillus cereus group bacteria including biofilm formation and motility, and CdgF was previously identified as a diguanylate cyclase promoting biofilm formation in B. thuringiensis. C-di-GMP can exert its function as a second messenger via riboswitch binding, and a functional c-di-GMP-responsive riboswitch has been found upstream of cbpA in various B. cereus group strains. Protein signature recognition predicted CbpA to be a cell wall-anchored surface protein with a fibrinogen or collagen binding domain. The aim of this study was to identify the binding ligand of CbpA and the function of CbpA in cellular processes that are part of the B. cereus group c-di-GMP regulatory network. By global gene expression profiling cbpA was found to be down-regulated in a cdgF deletion mutant, and cbpA exhibited maximum expression in early exponential growth. Contrary to the wild type, a ΔcbpA deletion mutant showed no binding to collagen in a cell adhesion assay, while a CbpA overexpression strain exhibited slightly increased collagen binding compared to the control. For both fibrinogen and fibronectin there was however no change in binding activity compared to controls, and CbpA did not appear to contribute to binding to abiotic surfaces (polystyrene, glass, steel). Also, the CbpA overexpression strain appeared to be less motile and showed a decrease in biofilm formation compared to the control. This study provides the first experimental proof that the binding ligand of the c-di-GMP regulated adhesin CbpA is collagen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Finke
- Centre for Integrative Microbial Evolution and Section for Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Annette Fagerlund
- Centre for Integrative Microbial Evolution and Section for Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Veronika Smith
- Centre for Integrative Microbial Evolution and Section for Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Veronica Krogstad
- Centre for Integrative Microbial Evolution and Section for Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Mimmi Jingxi Zhang
- Centre for Integrative Microbial Evolution and Section for Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Dirk Linke
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Ole Andreas Økstad
- Centre for Integrative Microbial Evolution and Section for Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
- Corresponding author at: Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, PB 1068 Blindern, 0371 Blindern, Norway.
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18
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Megta AK, Mishra AK, Palva A, von Ossowski I, Krishnan V. Crystal structure of basal pilin SpaE reveals the molecular basis of its incorporation in the lactobacillar SpaFED pilus. J Struct Biol 2019; 207:74-84. [PMID: 31026587 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2019.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
For some Gram-positive genera and species, the long-extended and adhesive sortase-dependent pilus plays an essential role during host colonization, biofilm formation, and immune modulation. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is a gut-adapted commensal strain that harbors the operonic genes for the SpaCBA and SpaFED pili, both being comprised of three different protein subunits termed the backbone, tip, and basal pilins. Crystal structures of the backbone pilins (SpaA and SpaD) have recently been solved, and here we describe the high-resolution (1.5 Å) structural determination of the SpaE basal pilin. SpaE consists of two immunoglobulin-like CnaB domains, with each displaying a spontaneously formed internal isopeptide bond, though apparently slow forming in the N-terminal domain. Remarkably, SpaE contains an atypically lengthy unstructured C-terminal tail, along with an YPKN pilin motif peptide, which is normally reserved for backbone subunits. Based on our analysis of the crystal structure data, we provide a molecular model for the basal positioning of the SpaE pilin within the SpaFED pilus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhin Kumar Megta
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana 121 001, India; School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Odisha 751024, India
| | - Arjun K Mishra
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana 121 001, India
| | - Airi Palva
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Vengadesan Krishnan
- Laboratory of Structural Biology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, Haryana 121 001, India.
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19
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Structure and Mechanism of LcpA, a Phosphotransferase That Mediates Glycosylation of a Gram-Positive Bacterial Cell Wall-Anchored Protein. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.01580-18. [PMID: 30782654 PMCID: PMC6381275 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01580-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In Gram-positive bacteria, the conserved LCP family enzymes studied to date are known to attach glycopolymers, including wall teichoic acid, to the cell envelope. It is unknown if these enzymes catalyze glycosylation of surface proteins. We show here in the actinobacterium Actinomyces oris by X-ray crystallography and biochemical analyses that A. oris LcpA is an LCP homolog, possessing pyrophosphatase and phosphotransferase activities known to belong to LCP enzymes that require conserved catalytic Arg residues, while harboring a unique disulfide bond critical for protein stability. Importantly, LcpA mediates glycosylation of the surface protein GspA via phosphotransferase activity. Our studies provide the first experimental evidence of an archetypal LCP enzyme that promotes glycosylation of a cell wall-anchored protein in Gram-positive bacteria. The widely conserved LytR-CpsA-Psr (LCP) family of enzymes in Gram-positive bacteria is known to attach glycopolymers, including wall teichoic acid, to the cell envelope. However, it is undetermined if these enzymes are capable of catalyzing glycan attachment to surface proteins. In the actinobacterium Actinomyces oris, an LCP homolog here named LcpA is genetically linked to GspA, a glycoprotein that is covalently attached to the bacterial peptidoglycan by the housekeeping sortase SrtA. Here we show by X-ray crystallography that LcpA adopts an α-β-α structural fold, akin to the conserved LCP domain, which harbors characteristic catalytic arginine residues. Consistently, alanine substitution for these residues, R149 and R266, abrogates GspA glycosylation, leading to accumulation of an intermediate form termed GspALMM, which is also observed in the lcpA mutant. Unlike other LCP proteins characterized to date, LcpA contains a stabilizing disulfide bond, mutations of which severely affect LcpA stability. In line with the established role of disulfide bond formation in oxidative protein folding in A. oris, deletion of vkor, coding for the thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase VKOR, also significantly reduces LcpA stability. Biochemical studies demonstrated that the recombinant LcpA enzyme possesses pyrophosphatase activity, enabling hydrolysis of diphosphate bonds. Furthermore, this recombinant enzyme, which weakly interacts with GspA in solution, catalyzes phosphotransfer to GspALMM. Altogether, the findings support that A. oris LcpA is an archetypal LCP enzyme that glycosylates a cell wall-anchored protein, a process that may be conserved in Actinobacteria, given the conservation of LcpA and GspA in these high-GC-content organisms.
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20
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Abstract
To interact with the external environments, bacteria often display long proteinaceous appendages on their cell surface, called pili or fimbriae. These non-flagellar thread-like structures are polymers composed of covalently or non-covalently interacting repeated pilin subunits. Distinct pilus classes can be identified on basis of their assembly pathways, including chaperone-usher pili, type V pili, type IV pili, curli and fap fibers, conjugative and type IV secretion pili, as well as sortase-mediated pili. Pili play versatile roles in bacterial physiology, and can be involved in adhesion and host cell invasion, DNA and protein secretion and uptake, biofilm formation, cell motility and more. Recent advances in structure determination of components involved in the various pilus systems has enabled a better molecular understanding of their mechanisms of assembly and function. In this chapter we describe the diversity in structure, biogenesis and function of the different pilus systems found in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and review their potential as anti-microbial targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Lukaszczyk
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
- Structural and Molecular Microbiology, Structural Biology Research Center, VIB, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Brajabandhu Pradhan
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
- Structural and Molecular Microbiology, Structural Biology Research Center, VIB, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Han Remaut
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
- Structural and Molecular Microbiology, Structural Biology Research Center, VIB, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
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21
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Singh KV, Pinkston KL, Gao P, Harvey BR, Murray BE. Anti-Ace monoclonal antibody reduces Enterococcus faecalis aortic valve infection in a rat infective endocarditis model. Pathog Dis 2018; 76:5185112. [PMID: 30445491 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/fty084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ace (Adhesin to collagen from Enterococcus faecalis) is a cell-wall anchored protein that is expressed conditionally and is important for virulence in a rat infective endocarditis (IE) model. Previously, we showed that rats immunized with the collagen binding domain of Ace (domain A), or administered anti-Ace domain A polyclonal antibody, were less susceptible to E. faecalis endocarditis than sham-immunized controls. In this work, we demonstrated that a sub nanomolar monoclonal antibody (mAb), anti-Ace mAb70, significantly diminished E. faecalis binding to ECM collagen IV in in vitro adherence assays and that, in the endocarditis model, anti-Ace mAb70 pre-treatment significantly reduced E. faecalis infection of aortic valves. The effectiveness of anti-Ace mAb against IE in the rat model suggests it might serve as a beneficial agent for passive protection against E. faecalis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavindra V Singh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St. Houston, TX 77030, USA.,UTHealth's Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Genomics (CARMiG), 6431 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030
| | - Kenneth L Pinkston
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, 1825 Pressler St, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Peng Gao
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, 1825 Pressler St, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Barrett R Harvey
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases, 1825 Pressler St, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St. Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Barbara E Murray
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St. Houston, TX 77030, USA.,UTHealth's Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Genomics (CARMiG), 6431 Fannin St., Houston, TX 77030.,Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St. Houston, TX 77030, USA
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22
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Chaurasia P, Pratap S, Palva A, von Ossowski I, Krishnan V. Bent conformation of a backbone pilin N-terminal domain supports a three-stage pilus assembly mechanism. Commun Biol 2018; 1:94. [PMID: 30271975 PMCID: PMC6123636 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0100-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective colonization of host cells by some Gram-positive bacteria often involves using lengthy, adhesive macromolecular structures called sortase-dependent pili. Among commensals, the gut-adapted Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG strain encodes the operons for two varieties of these pili (SpaCBA and SpaFED), with each structure consisting of backbone, tip, and basal pilin subunits. Although the tertiary structure was recently solved for the backbone subunit (SpaA) of the SpaCBA pilus, no structural information exists for its counterpart in the SpaFED pilus. Here, we report several crystal structures for the SpaD backbone pilin, two of which capture the N-terminal domain in either the closed (linear) or open (bent) conformation. To our knowledge, this is the first observation of the bent conformation in Gram-positive pilin structures. Based on this bent conformation, we suggest a three-stage model, which we call the expose-ligate-seal mechanism, for the docking and assembly of backbone pilins into the sortase-dependent pilus. Priyanka Chaurasia et al. report crystal structures of the SpaD backbone pilin from a gut-adapted bacteria, Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The observed bent conformation of the N-terminal domain has not been seen in other Gram-positive pilin structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Chaurasia
- Laboratory of Structural Microbiology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, India.,Department of Biotechnology, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - Shivendra Pratap
- Laboratory of Structural Microbiology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, India
| | - Airi Palva
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ingemar von Ossowski
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vengadesan Krishnan
- Laboratory of Structural Microbiology, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, 121001, India.
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23
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Surface proteins involved in the adhesion of Streptococcus salivarius to human intestinal epithelial cells. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:2851-2865. [PMID: 29442170 PMCID: PMC5847202 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-8794-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The adhesion properties of 14 Streptococcus salivarius strains to mucus (HT29-MTX) and non-mucus secreting (Caco-2/TC7) human intestinal epithelial cells were investigated. Ability to adhere to these two eukaryotic cell lines greatly differs between strains. The presence of mucus played a major factor in adhesion, likely due to high adhesiveness to mucins present in the native human mucus layer covering the whole cell surface. Only one S. salivarius strain (F6-1), isolated from the feces of a healthy baby, was found to strongly adhere to HT-29 MTX cells at a level comparable to that of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, a probiotic strain considered to be highly adherent. By sequencing the genome of F6-1, we were able to identify 36 genes encoding putative surface proteins. Deletion mutants were constructed for six of them and their adhesion abilities on HT-29 MTX cells were checked. Our study confirmed that four of these genes encode adhesins involved in the adhesion of S. salivarius to host cells. Such adhesins were also identified in other S. salivarius strains.
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24
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Yadav AK, Tyagi A, Kumar A, Panwar S, Grover S, Saklani AC, Hemalatha R, Batish VK. Adhesion of Lactobacilli and their anti-infectivity potential. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2017; 57:2042-2056. [PMID: 25879917 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2014.918533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The probiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria primarily point toward colonizing ability of Lactobacilli as the most important attribute for endowing all the known beneficial effects in a host. Lactobacillus species exert health-promoting function in the gastrointestinal tract through various mechanisms such as pathogen exclusion, maintenance of microbial balance, immunomodulation, and other crucial functions. It has been seen that many surface layer proteins are involved in host adhesion, and play significant role in the modification of some signaling pathways within the host cells. Interaction between different bacterial cell surface proteins and host receptor has been imperative for a better understanding of the mechanism through which Lactobacilli exert their health-promoting functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashok Kumar Yadav
- a Department of Microbiology , National Institute of Nutrition , Hyderabad , India.,b Centre for Molecular Biology, Central University of Jammu , Samba , Jammu & Kashmir , India
| | - Ashish Tyagi
- c Molecular Biology Unit, Dairy Microbiology Division, National Dairy Research Institute , Karnal , Haryana , India
| | - Ashwani Kumar
- d Department of Biotechnology , Seth Jai Parkash Mukand Lal Institute of Engineering and Technology , Radaur , Yamuna Nagar , Haryana , India.,e Department of Nutrition Biology , Central University of Haryana , Mahendergarh , Haryana , India
| | - Surbhi Panwar
- d Department of Biotechnology , Seth Jai Parkash Mukand Lal Institute of Engineering and Technology , Radaur , Yamuna Nagar , Haryana , India
| | - Sunita Grover
- c Molecular Biology Unit, Dairy Microbiology Division, National Dairy Research Institute , Karnal , Haryana , India
| | | | - Rajkumar Hemalatha
- a Department of Microbiology , National Institute of Nutrition , Hyderabad , India
| | - Virender Kumar Batish
- c Molecular Biology Unit, Dairy Microbiology Division, National Dairy Research Institute , Karnal , Haryana , India
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von Ossowski I. Novel Molecular Insights about Lactobacillar Sortase-Dependent Piliation. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18071551. [PMID: 28718795 PMCID: PMC5536039 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18071551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the more conspicuous structural features that punctuate the outer cell surface of certain bacterial Gram-positive genera and species is the sortase-dependent pilus. As these adhesive and variable-length protrusions jut outward from the cell, they provide a physically expedient and useful means for the initial contact between a bacterium and its ecological milieu. The sortase-dependent pilus displays an elongated macromolecular architecture consisting of two to three types of monomeric protein subunits (pilins), each with their own specific function and location, and that are joined together covalently by the transpeptidyl activity of a pilus-specific C-type sortase enzyme. Sortase-dependent pili were first detected among the Gram-positive pathogens and subsequently categorized as an essential virulence factor for host colonization and tissue invasion by these harmful bacteria. However, the sortase-dependent pilus was rebranded as also a niche-adaptation factor after it was revealed that “friendly” Gram-positive commensals exhibit the same kind of pilus structures, which includes two contrasting gut-adapted species from the Lactobacillus genus, allochthonous Lactobacillus rhamnosus and autochthonous Lactobacillus ruminis. This review will highlight and discuss what has been learned from the latest research carried out and published on these lactobacillar pilus types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingemar von Ossowski
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki FIN-00014, Finland.
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Madani A, Garakani K, Mofrad MRK. Molecular mechanics of Staphylococcus aureus adhesin, CNA, and the inhibition of bacterial adhesion by stretching collagen. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179601. [PMID: 28665944 PMCID: PMC5493303 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial adhesion to collagen, the most abundant protein in humans, is a critical step in the initiation and persistence of numerous bacterial infections. In this study, we explore the collagen binding mechanism of the multi-modular cell wall anchored collagen adhesin (CNA) in Staphylococcus aureus and examine how applied mechanical forces can modulate adhesion ability. The common structural-functional elements and domain organization of CNA are present across over 50 genera of bacteria. Through the use of molecular dynamics models and normal mode analysis, we shed light on the CNA's structural and conformational dynamics and its interactions with collagen that lead to collagen binding. Our results suggest that the linker region, CNA165-173, acts as a hinge exhibiting bending, extensional, and torsional modes of structural flexibility and its residues are key in the interaction of the CNA-collagen complex. Steered molecular dynamics simulations were conducted with umbrella sampling. During the course of these simulations, the 'locking' latch from the CNA N2 domain was dissociated from its groove in the CNA N1 domain, implying the importance of the latch for effective ligand binding. Finally, we observed that the binding efficiency of the CNA N1-N2 domains to collagen decreases greatly with increasing tensile force application to the collagen peptides. Thus, CNA and similar adhesins might preferentially bind to sites in which collagen fibers are cleaved, such as in wounded, injured, or inflamed tissues, or in which the collagenous tissue is less mature. As alternative techniques for control of bacterial infection are in-demand due to the rise of bacterial antibiotic resistance, results from our computational studies with respect to the mechanoregulation of the collagen binding site may inspire new therapeutics and engineering solutions by mechanically preventing colonization and/or further pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Madani
- Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory, Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Kiavash Garakani
- Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory, Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Mohammad R. K. Mofrad
- Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory, Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Huang J, Wu C, Liu D, Yang X, Wu R, Zhang J, Ma C, He H. C-terminal domains of bacterial proteases: structure, function and the biotechnological applications. J Appl Microbiol 2016; 122:12-22. [DOI: 10.1111/jam.13317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2016] [Revised: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics; School of Life Sciences; Central South University; Changsha China
| | - C. Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics; School of Life Sciences; Central South University; Changsha China
| | - D. Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics; School of Life Sciences; Central South University; Changsha China
| | - X. Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics; School of Life Sciences; Central South University; Changsha China
| | - R. Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics; School of Life Sciences; Central South University; Changsha China
| | - J. Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics; School of Life Sciences; Central South University; Changsha China
| | - C. Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics; School of Life Sciences; Central South University; Changsha China
| | - H. He
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics; School of Life Sciences; Central South University; Changsha China
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Herman-Bausier P, Valotteau C, Pietrocola G, Rindi S, Alsteens D, Foster TJ, Speziale P, Dufrêne YF. Mechanical Strength and Inhibition of the Staphylococcus aureus Collagen-Binding Protein Cna. mBio 2016; 7:e01529-16. [PMID: 27795393 PMCID: PMC5080380 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01529-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus expresses a variety of cell surface adhesion proteins that bind to host extracellular matrix proteins. Among these, the collagen (Cn)-binding protein Cna plays important roles in bacterium-host adherence and in immune evasion. While it is well established that the A region of Cna mediates ligand binding, whether the repetitive B region has a dedicated function is not known. Here, we report the direct measurement of the mechanical strength of Cna-Cn bonds on living bacteria, and we quantify the antiadhesion activity of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) targeting this interaction. We demonstrate that the strength of Cna-Cn bonds in vivo is very strong (~1.2 nN), consistent with the high-affinity "collagen hug" mechanism. The B region is required for strong ligand binding and has been found to function as a spring capable of sustaining high forces. This previously undescribed mechanical response of the B region is of biological significance as it provides a means to project the A region away from the bacterial surface and to maintain bacterial adhesion under conditions of high forces. We further quantified the antiadhesion activity of MAbs raised against the A region of Cna directly on living bacteria without the need for labeling or purification. Some MAbs are more efficient in blocking single-cell adhesion, suggesting that they act as competitive inhibitors that bind Cna residues directly involved in ligand binding. This report highlights the role of protein mechanics in activating the function of staphylococcal adhesion proteins and emphasizes the potential of antibodies to prevent staphylococcal adhesion and biofilm formation. IMPORTANCE Cna is a collagen (Cn)-binding protein from Staphylococcus aureus that is involved in pathogenesis. Currently, we know little about the functional role of the repetitive B region of the protein. Here, we unravel the mechanical strength of Cna in living bacteria. We show that single Cna-Cn bonds are very strong, reflecting high-affinity binding by the collagen hug mechanism. We discovered that the B region behaves as a nanospring capable of sustaining high forces. This unanticipated mechanical response, not previously described for any staphylococcal adhesin, favors a model in which the B region has a mechanical function that is essential for strong ligand binding. Finally, we assess the antiadhesion activity of monoclonal antibodies against Cna, suggesting that they could be used to inhibit S. aureus adhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claire Valotteau
- Institute of Life Sciences, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Giampiero Pietrocola
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Simonetta Rindi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - David Alsteens
- Institute of Life Sciences, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Timothy J Foster
- Department of Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Pietro Speziale
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of Biochemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Yves F Dufrêne
- Institute of Life Sciences, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology (WELBIO), Wallonia, Belgium
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Isopeptide bond in collagen- and fibrinogen-binding MSCRAMMs. Biophys Rev 2016; 8:75-83. [PMID: 28510145 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-015-0191-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The internal isopeptide bonds are amide bonds formed autocatalytically between the side chains of Lys and Asn/Asp residues and have been discovered recently. These bonds are well conserved in Gram-positive bacterial pilin proteins and are also observed over a wide range of Gram-positive bacterial surface proteins. The presence of these bonds confers the pilus subunits with remarkable properties in terms of thermal stability and resistance to proteases. Like pili, microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs) are also surface proteins found only in Gram-positive bacteria. They specifically interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules like collagen, fibrinogen, fibronectin, laminin, etc. Many biophysical and biochemical studies have been carried out to characterize the isopeptide bonds in pili proteins from Gram-positive bacteria, but no attempts have been made to study the isopeptide bonds in MSCRAMMs. This short review aims to study the significance of the isopeptide bonds in relation to their function, by analyzing the crystal structures of collagen- and fibrinogen-binding MSCRAMMs. In this analysis, interestingly, we observed that the putative isopeptide bonds are restricted to the collagen-binding MSCRAMMs. Based on analogy with bacterial pilus subunits, we hypothesize that the collagen-binding MSCRAMMs possessing putative isopeptide bonds exhibit similar structural properties, which could help the bacteria in colonizing the host and provide resistance against host-defense mechanisms.
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Yannas IV, Tzeranis D, So PT. Surface biology of collagen scaffold explains blocking of wound contraction and regeneration of skin and peripheral nerves. Biomed Mater 2015; 11:014106. [PMID: 26694657 PMCID: PMC5775477 DOI: 10.1088/1748-6041/11/1/014106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
We review the details of preparation and of the recently elucidated mechanism of biological (regenerative) activity of a collagen scaffold (dermis regeneration template, DRT) that has induced regeneration of skin and peripheral nerves (PN) in a variety of animal models and in the clinic. DRT is a 3D protein network with optimized pore size in the range 20-125 µm, degradation half-life 14 ± 7 d and ligand densities that exceed 200 µM α1β1 or α2β1 ligands. The pore has been optimized to allow migration of contractile cells (myofibroblasts, MFB) into the scaffold and to provide sufficient specific surface for cell-scaffold interaction; the degradation half-life provides the required time window for satisfactory binding interaction of MFB with the scaffold surface; and the ligand density supplies the appropriate ligands for specific binding of MFB on the scaffold surface. A dramatic change in MFB phenotype takes place following MFB-scaffold binding which has been shown to result in blocking of wound contraction. In both skin wounds and PN wounds the evidence has shown clearly that contraction blocking by DRT is followed by induction of regeneration of nearly perfect organs. The biologically active structure of DRT is required for contraction blocking; well-matched collagen scaffold controls of DRT, with structures that varied from that of DRT, have failed to induce regeneration. Careful processing of collagen scaffolds is required for adequate biological activity of the scaffold surface. The newly understood mechanism provides a relatively complete paradigm of regenerative medicine that can be used to prepare scaffolds that may induce regeneration of other organs in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- I V Yannas
- Departments of Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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31
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Secrets of a covalent interaction for biomaterials and biotechnology: SpyTag and SpyCatcher. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2015; 29:94-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2015.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Chahales P, Thanassi DG. Structure, Function, and Assembly of Adhesive Organelles by Uropathogenic Bacteria. Microbiol Spectr 2015; 3:10.1128/microbiolspec.UTI-0018-2013. [PMID: 26542038 PMCID: PMC4638162 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.uti-0018-2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria assemble a wide range of adhesive proteins, termed adhesins, to mediate binding to receptors and colonization of surfaces. For pathogenic bacteria, adhesins are critical for early stages of infection, allowing the bacteria to initiate contact with host cells, colonize different tissues, and establish a foothold within the host. The adhesins expressed by a pathogen are also critical for bacterial-bacterial interactions and the formation of bacterial communities, including biofilms. The ability to adhere to host tissues is particularly important for bacteria that colonize sites such as the urinary tract, where the flow of urine functions to maintain sterility by washing away non-adherent pathogens. Adhesins vary from monomeric proteins that are directly anchored to the bacterial surface to polymeric, hair-like fibers that extend out from the cell surface. These latter fibers are termed pili or fimbriae, and were among the first identified virulence factors of uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Studies since then have identified a range of both pilus and non-pilus adhesins that contribute to bacterial colonization of the urinary tract, and have revealed molecular details of the structures, assembly pathways, and functions of these adhesive organelles. In this review, we describe the different types of adhesins expressed by both Gram-negative and Gram-positive uropathogens, what is known about their structures, how they are assembled on the bacterial surface, and the functions of specific adhesins in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Chahales
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794
| | - David G Thanassi
- Center for Infectious Diseases and Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794
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33
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Krishnan V. Pilins in gram-positive bacteria: A structural perspective. IUBMB Life 2015; 67:533-43. [PMID: 26178080 DOI: 10.1002/iub.1400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Pilins or fimbrilins are a class of proteins found in bacterial surface pilus, a hair-like surface appendage. Both the Gram-negative and -positive bacteria produce pilins to assemble pili on their cell-surface for different purposes including adherence, twitching motility, conjugation, immunomodulation, biofilm formation, and electron transfer. Immunogenic properties of the pilins make them attractive vaccine candidates. The polymerized pilins play a key role in the initiation of host adhesion, which is a critical step for bacterial colonization and infection. Because of their key role in adhesion and exposure on the cell surface, targeting the pilins-mediated adhesion (anti-adhesion therapy) is also seen as a promising alternative approach for preventing and treating bacterial infections, one that may overcome their ever-increasing repertoires of resistance mechanisms. Individual pilins interact with each other non-covalently to assemble the pilus fiber with the help of associated proteins like chaperones and Usher in Gram-negative bacteria. In contrast, the pilins in Gram-positive bacteria often connect with each other covalently, with the help of sortases. Certain unique structural features present on the pilins distinguish them from one another across different bacterial strains, and these dictate their cellular targets and functions. While the structure of pilins has been extensively studied in Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, the pilins in Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria have been in only during the last decade. Recently, the discovery of pilins in non-pathogenic bacteria, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, has received great attention, though traditionally the attention was on pathogenic bacteria. This review summarizes and discusses the current structural knowledge of pilins in Gram-positive bacteria with emphasis on those pilins which are sortase substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vengadesan Krishnan
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR-Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad-121 001, Haryana, India
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34
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Inactivation of sortase A mediated by metal ATCUN complexes. J Biol Inorg Chem 2014; 19:1327-39. [PMID: 25217034 DOI: 10.1007/s00775-014-1190-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Accepted: 08/24/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Catalytic metallopeptides that target the membrane-associated sortase A transpeptidase have been developed and evaluated as irreversible inactivators of SrtA∆N59 (sortase A, lacking the initial membrane-binding domain). The copper-binding GGH tripeptide ATCUN motif was linked to amidated forms of the cell wall sorting signal, LPET and LPETG, as sortase-targeting moieties. The resulting metallopeptides were used to determine half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) and rate constants for time-dependent sortase A inactivation. Michaelis-Menten behavior was observed for the catalytic metallopeptides, and k(cat), K(M) and k(cat)/K(M) parameters were obtained as 0.080 ± 0.002 min⁻¹, 23 ± 2 μM and 0.0035 ± 0.0003 μM⁻¹ min⁻¹, respectively. Concentration-dependent inhibition of SrtA∆N59 by the metallopeptides revealed IC₅₀ values ranging from 570 to 700 µM, while Cu-GGH, which lacked a targeting motif, had no measurable IC₅₀ value (>2,000 µM). Time-dependent inactivation of SrtA revealed a range of catalytic activities, with Cu-GGHGLPETG-NH2 demonstrating the fastest rate of inactivation in the presence of ascorbate and hydrogen peroxide coreactants. The active site of the enzyme comprises residues Cys-184, Arg-197 and His-120. LC-MS/MS analysis of the reaction products demonstrated modification of Cys-184 to cysteine sulfonic acid (+48 amu). Results obtained from a DTNB assay support oxidation of the Cys-184 residue. LC-MS/MS also suggested oxidation of the Arg-197 containing peptide. 2D NMR analysis was performed to assess the possible oxidation of His-120, however, none was observed. These compounds possess the potential for irreversible inactivation of SrtA through oxidative modification of essential residues required for substrate binding.
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Structural conservation, variability, and immunogenicity of the T6 backbone pilin of serotype M6 Streptococcus pyogenes. Infect Immun 2014; 82:2949-57. [PMID: 24778112 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01706-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Group A streptococcus (GAS; Streptococcus pyogenes) is a Gram-positive human pathogen that causes a broad range of diseases ranging from acute pharyngitis to the poststreptococcal sequelae of acute rheumatic fever. GAS pili are highly diverse, long protein polymers that extend from the cell surface. They have multiple roles in infection and are promising candidates for vaccine development. This study describes the structure of the T6 backbone pilin (BP; Lancefield T-antigen) from the important M6 serotype. The structure reveals a modular arrangement of three tandem immunoglobulin-like domains, two with internal isopeptide bonds. The T6 pilin lysine, essential for polymerization, is located in a novel VAKS motif that is structurally homologous to the canonical YPKN pilin lysine in other three- and four-domain Gram-positive pilins. The T6 structure also highlights a conserved pilin core whose surface is decorated with highly variable loops and extensions. Comparison to other Gram-positive BPs shows that many of the largest variable extensions are found in conserved locations. Studies with sera from patients diagnosed with GAS-associated acute rheumatic fever showed that each of the three T6 domains, and the largest of the variable extensions (V8), are targeted by IgG during infection in vivo. Although the GAS BP show large variations in size and sequence, the modular nature of the pilus proteins revealed by the T6 structure may aid the future design of a pilus-based vaccine.
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Schulte T, Löfling J, Mikaelsson C, Kikhney A, Hentrich K, Diamante A, Ebel C, Normark S, Svergun D, Henriques-Normark B, Achour A. The basic keratin 10-binding domain of the virulence-associated pneumococcal serine-rich protein PsrP adopts a novel MSCRAMM fold. Open Biol 2014; 4:130090. [PMID: 24430336 PMCID: PMC3909270 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.130090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major human pathogen, and a leading cause of disease and death worldwide. Pneumococcal invasive disease is triggered by initial asymptomatic colonization of the human upper respiratory tract. The pneumococcal serine-rich repeat protein (PsrP) is a lung-specific virulence factor whose functional binding region (BR) binds to keratin-10 (KRT10) and promotes pneumococcal biofilm formation through self-oligomerization. We present the crystal structure of the KRT10-binding domain of PsrP (BR187–385) determined to 2.0 Å resolution. BR187–385 adopts a novel variant of the DEv-IgG fold, typical for microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules adhesins, despite very low sequence identity. An extended β-sheet on one side of the compressed, two-sided barrel presents a basic groove that possibly binds to the acidic helical rod domain of KRT10. Our study also demonstrates the importance of the other side of the barrel, formed by extensive well-ordered loops and stabilized by short β-strands, for interaction with KRT10.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Schulte
- Science for Life Laboratory, Center for Infectious Medicine (CIM), Department of Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet Science Park, Tomtebodavägen 23A Solna, Stockholm 17165, Sweden
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Autocatalytically generated Thr-Gln ester bond cross-links stabilize the repetitive Ig-domain shaft of a bacterial cell surface adhesin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 111:1367-72. [PMID: 24344302 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1316855111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Gram-positive bacteria are decorated by a variety of proteins that are anchored to the cell wall and project from it to mediate colonization, attachment to host cells, and pathogenesis. These proteins, and protein assemblies, such as pili, are typically long and thin yet must withstand high levels of mechanical stress and proteolytic attack. The recent discovery of intramolecular isopeptide bond cross-links, formed autocatalytically, in the pili from Streptococcus pyogenes has highlighted the role that such cross-links can play in stabilizing such structures. We have investigated a putative cell-surface adhesin from Clostridium perfringens comprising an N-terminal adhesin domain followed by 11 repeat domains. The crystal structure of a two-domain fragment shows that each domain has an IgG-like fold and contains an unprecedented ester bond joining Thr and Gln side chains. MS confirms the presence of these bonds. We show that the bonds form through an autocatalytic intramolecular reaction catalyzed by an adjacent His residue in a serine protease-like mechanism. Two buried acidic residues assist in the reaction. By mutagenesis, we show that loss of the ester bond reduces the thermal stability drastically and increases susceptibility to proteolysis. As in pilin domains, the bonds are placed at a strategic position joining the first and last strands, even though the Ig fold type differs. Bioinformatic analysis suggests that similar domains and ester bond cross-links are widespread in Gram-positive bacterial adhesins.
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38
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Garnett JA, Matthews S. Interactions in bacterial biofilm development: a structural perspective. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2013; 13:739-55. [PMID: 23305361 PMCID: PMC3601411 DOI: 10.2174/138920312804871166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Revised: 07/16/2012] [Accepted: 08/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
A community-based life style is the normal mode of growth and survival for many bacterial species. These cellular accretions or biofilms are initiated upon recognition of solid phases by cell surface exposed adhesive moieties. Further cell-cell interactions, cell signalling and bacterial replication leads to the establishment of dense populations encapsulated in a mainly self-produced extracellular matrix; this comprises a complex mixture of macromolecules. These fascinating architectures protect the inhabitants from radiation damage, dehydration, pH fluctuations and antimicrobial compounds. As such they can cause bacterial persistence in disease and problems in industrial applications. In this review we discuss the current understandings of these initial biofilm-forming processes based on structural data. We also briefly describe latter biofilm maturation and dispersal events, which although lack high-resolution insights, are the present focus for many structural biologists working in this field. Finally we give an overview of modern techniques aimed at preventing and disrupting problem biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Garnett
- Centre for Structural Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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39
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Berisio R, Vitagliano L. Polyproline and triple helix motifs in host-pathogen recognition. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2013; 13:855-65. [PMID: 23305370 PMCID: PMC3707005 DOI: 10.2174/138920312804871157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2012] [Revised: 08/10/2012] [Accepted: 08/30/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Secondary structure elements often mediate protein-protein interactions. Despite their low abundance in folded proteins, polyproline II (PPII) and its variant, the triple helix, are frequently involved in protein-protein interactions, likely due to their peculiar propensity to be solvent-exposed. We here review the role of PPII and triple helix in mediating host-pathogen interactions, with a particular emphasis to the structural aspects of these processes. After a brief description of the basic structural features of these elements, examples of host-pathogen interactions involving these motifs are illustrated. Literature data suggest that the role played by PPII motif in these processes is twofold. Indeed, PPII regions may directly mediate interactions between proteins of the host and the pathogen. Alternatively, PPII may act as structural spacers needed for the correct positioning of the elements needed for adhesion and infectivity. Recent investigations have highlighted that collagen triple helix is also a common target for bacterial adhesins. Although structural data on complexes between adhesins and collagen models are rather limited, experimental and theoretical studies have unveiled some interesting clues of the recognition process. Interestingly, very recent data show that not only is the triple helix used by pathogens as a target in the host-pathogen interaction but it may also act as a bait in these processes since bacterial proteins containing triple helix regions have been shown to interact with host proteins. As both PPII and triple helix expose several main chain non-satisfied hydrogen bond acceptors and donors, both elements are highly solvated. The preservation of the solvation state of both PPII and triple helix upon protein-protein interaction is an emerging aspect that will be here thoroughly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Berisio
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR via Mezzocannone 16, I-80134 Napoli, Italy
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40
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Smokvina T, Wels M, Polka J, Chervaux C, Brisse S, Boekhorst J, van Hylckama Vlieg JET, Siezen RJ. Lactobacillus paracasei comparative genomics: towards species pan-genome definition and exploitation of diversity. PLoS One 2013; 8:e68731. [PMID: 23894338 PMCID: PMC3716772 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 05/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Lactobacillus paracasei is a member of the normal human and animal gut microbiota and is used extensively in the food industry in starter cultures for dairy products or as probiotics. With the development of low-cost, high-throughput sequencing techniques it has become feasible to sequence many different strains of one species and to determine its "pan-genome". We have sequenced the genomes of 34 different L. paracasei strains, and performed a comparative genomics analysis. We analysed genome synteny and content, focussing on the pan-genome, core genome and variable genome. Each genome was shown to contain around 2800-3100 protein-coding genes, and comparative analysis identified over 4200 ortholog groups that comprise the pan-genome of this species, of which about 1800 ortholog groups make up the conserved core. Several factors previously associated with host-microbe interactions such as pili, cell-envelope proteinase, hydrolases p40 and p75 or the capacity to produce short branched-chain fatty acids (bkd operon) are part of the L. paracasei core genome present in all analysed strains. The variome consists mainly of hypothetical proteins, phages, plasmids, transposon/conjugative elements, and known functions such as sugar metabolism, cell-surface proteins, transporters, CRISPR-associated proteins, and EPS biosynthesis proteins. An enormous variety and variability of sugar utilization gene cassettes were identified, with each strain harbouring between 25-53 cassettes, reflecting the high adaptability of L. paracasei to different niches. A phylogenomic tree was constructed based on total genome contents, and together with an analysis of horizontal gene transfer events we conclude that evolution of these L. paracasei strains is complex and not always related to niche adaptation. The results of this genome content comparison was used, together with high-throughput growth experiments on various carbohydrates, to perform gene-trait matching analysis, in order to link the distribution pattern of a specific phenotype to the presence/absence of specific sets of genes.
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Pritchard DI, Brown AP. Degradation of MSCRAMM target macromolecules in VLU slough by Lucilia sericata chymotrypsin 1 (ISP) persists in the presence of tissue gelatinase activity. Int Wound J 2013; 12:414-21. [PMID: 23834475 DOI: 10.1111/iwj.12124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 06/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Venous leg ulcer slough is unpleasant to the patient and difficult to manage clinically. It harbours infection, also preventing wound management materials and dressings from supporting the underlying viable tissues. In other words, slough has significant nuisance value in the tissue viability clinic. In this study, we have sought to increase our knowledge of slough by building upon a previous but limited analysis of this necrotic tissue. In particular, slough has been probed using Western blotting for the presence of proteins with the capacity to engage microbial surface components recognising adhesive matrix macromolecules. Although the samples were difficult to resolve, we detected fibrinogen, fibronectin, IgG, collagen, human serum albumin and matrix metalloproteinase-9. Furthermore, the effect of a maggot-derived debridement enzyme, chymotrypsin 1 on macromolecules in slough was confirmed across seven patient samples. The effect of chymotrypsin 1 on slough confirms our thesis that this potential debridement enzyme could be effective in removing slough along with its associated bacteria, given its observed resistance to intrinsic gelatinase activity. In summary, we believe that the data provide scientists and clinicians with further insights into the potential molecular interactions between bacteria, wound tissue and Lucilia sericata in a clinically problematic yet scientifically interesting wound ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- David I Pritchard
- Immune Modulation Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Nottingham, UK
| | - Alan P Brown
- Immune Modulation Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Nottingham, UK
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Kang M, Ko YP, Liang X, Ross CL, Liu Q, Murray BE, Höök M. Collagen-binding microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecule (MSCRAMM) of Gram-positive bacteria inhibit complement activation via the classical pathway. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:20520-31. [PMID: 23720782 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.454462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of a family of collagen-binding microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs) from Gram-positive bacteria are established virulence factors in several infectious diseases models. Here, we report that these adhesins also can bind C1q and act as inhibitors of the classical complement pathway. Molecular analyses of Cna from Staphylococcus aureus suggested that this prototype MSCRAMM bound to the collagenous domain of C1q and interfered with the interactions of C1r with C1q. As a result, C1r2C1s2 was displaced from C1q, and the C1 complex was deactivated. This novel function of the Cna-like MSCRAMMs represents a potential immune evasion strategy that could be used by numerous Gram-positive pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingsong Kang
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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43
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Peng YY, Howell L, Stoichevska V, Werkmeister JA, Dumsday GJ, Ramshaw JAM. Towards scalable production of a collagen-like protein from Streptococcus pyogenes for biomedical applications. Microb Cell Fact 2012; 11:146. [PMID: 23126526 PMCID: PMC3539881 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2859-11-146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Collagen has proved valuable as biomedical materials for a range of clinical applications, particularly in wound healing. It is normally produced from animal sources, such as from bovines, but concerns have emerged over transmission of diseases. Recombinant collagens would be preferable, but are difficult to produce. Recently, studies have shown that 'collagens' from bacteria, including Streptococcus pyogenes, can be produced in the laboratory as recombinant products, and that these are biocompatible. In the present study we have established that examples of bacterial collagens can be produced in a bioreactor with high yields providing proof of manufacture of this important group of proteins. RESULTS Production trials in shake flask cultures gave low yields of recombinant product, < 1 g/L. Increased yields, of around 1 g/L, were obtained when the shake flask process was transferred to a stirred tank bioreactor, and the yield was further enhanced to around 10 g/L by implementation of a high cell density fed-batch process and the use of suitably formulated fully defined media. Similar yields were obtained with 2 different constructs, one containing an introduced heparin binding domain. The best yields, of up to 19 g/L were obtained using this high cell density strategy, with an extended 24 h production time. CONCLUSIONS These data have shown that recombinant bacterial collagen from S. pyogenes, can be produced in sufficient yield by a scalable microbial production process to give commercially acceptable yields for broad use in biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Y Peng
- CSIRO Materials Science and Engineering, Bayview Avenue, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
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Inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus adherence to Caco-2 cells by lactobacilli and cell surface properties that influence attachment. Anaerobe 2012; 18:508-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2012.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2012] [Revised: 07/15/2012] [Accepted: 08/06/2012] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Ross CL, Liang X, Liu Q, Murray BE, Höök M, Ganesh VK. Targeted protein engineering provides insights into binding mechanism and affinities of bacterial collagen adhesins. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:34856-65. [PMID: 22865854 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.371054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The collagen-binding bacterial proteins, Ace and Cna, are well characterized on the biochemical and structural level. Despite overall structural similarity, recombinant forms of the Ace and Cna ligand-binding domains exhibit significantly different affinities and binding kinetics for collagen type I (CI) in vitro. In this study, we sought to understand, in submolecular detail, the bases for these differences. Using a structure-based approach, we engineered Cna and Ace variants by altering specific structural elements within the ligand-binding domains. Surface plasmon resonance-based binding analysis demonstrated that mutations that are predicted to alter the orientation of the Ace and Cna N(1) and N(2) subdomains significantly affect the interaction between the MSCRAMM (microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecule) and CI in vitro, including affinity, association/dissociation rates and binding ratio. Moreover, we utilized this information to engineer an Ace variant with an 11,000-fold higher CI affinity than the parent protein. Finally, we noted that several engineered proteins that exhibited a weak interaction with CI recognized more sites on CI, suggesting an inverse correlation between affinity and specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caná L Ross
- Center for Inflammatory and Infectious Disease, Institute for Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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Moses PJ, Power DA, Jesionowski AM, Jenkinson HF, Pantera EA, Vickerman MM. Streptococcus gordonii collagen-binding domain protein CbdA may enhance bacterial survival in instrumented root canals ex vivo. J Endod 2012; 39:39-43. [PMID: 23228255 DOI: 10.1016/j.joen.2012.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2012] [Revised: 06/01/2012] [Accepted: 06/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The surface-associated collagen-binding protein Ace of Enterococcus faecalis has been implicated as a virulence factor that contributes to bacterial persistence in endodontic infections. The purpose of this study was to determine if proteins with amino acid sequence similarity to Ace found in more abundant oral streptococci could play a similar role in potentially enhancing endodontic infections. METHODS A Streptococcus gordonii gene similar to ace was identified by genome sequence searches in silico. An isogenic derivative of strain DL1 with a disruption in the identified gene was constructed by allelic replacement. Parent and mutant strains were characterized for their ability to bind immobilized collagen type 1 in a microtiter plate-binding assay. Survival of the strains in a human tooth ex vivo-instrumented root canal model was compared by inoculating canals with parental or mutant bacteria and determining the colony-forming units (CFUs) recovered at various time points over a 12-day period. RESULTS The S. gordonii gene, encoding a protein with a conserved collagen-binding domain similar to that of Ace, was designated cbdA. The cbdA-deficient cells were less able to bind collagen type 1 than parental cells (P < .0001). Genetic complementation of the cbdA-deficient strain restored the collagen-binding phenotype. By day 12, significantly fewer (P = .03) cbdA-deficient than parental CFUs were recovered from instrumented canals. CONCLUSIONS A gene encoding a putative collagen-binding protein was identified in S. gordonii. Fewer S. gordonii cbdA-deficient cells survived ex vivo compared with parental cells, suggesting that collagen-binding proteins may contribute to the persistence of oral streptococci in instrumented root canals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Moses
- Department of Periodontics and Endodontics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
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Mishra A, Devarajan B, Reardon ME, Dwivedi P, Krishnan V, Cisar JO, Das A, Narayana SVL, Ton-That H. Two autonomous structural modules in the fimbrial shaft adhesin FimA mediate Actinomyces interactions with streptococci and host cells during oral biofilm development. Mol Microbiol 2011; 81:1205-20. [PMID: 21696465 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07745.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
By combining X-ray crystallography and modelling, we describe here the atomic structure of distinct adhesive moieties of FimA, the shaft fimbrillin of Actinomyces type 2 fimbriae, which uniquely mediates the receptor-dependent intercellular interactions between Actinomyces and oral streptococci as well as host cells during the development of oral biofilms. The FimA adhesin is built with three IgG-like domains, each of which harbours an intramolecular isopeptide bond, previously described in several Gram-positive pilins. Genetic and biochemical studies demonstrate that although these isopeptide bonds are dispensable for fimbrial assembly, cell-cell interactions and biofilm formation, they contribute significantly to the proteolytic stability of FimA. Remarkably, FimA harbours two autonomous adhesive modules, which structurally resemble the Staphylococcus aureus Cna B domain. Each isolated module can bind the plasma glycoprotein asialofetuin as well as the polysaccharide receptors present on the surface of oral streptococci and epithelial cells. Thus, FimA should serve as an excellent paradigm for the development of therapeutic strategies and elucidating the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between cellular receptors and Gram-positive fimbriae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arunima Mishra
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
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Pyburn TM, Bensing BA, Xiong YQ, Melancon BJ, Tomasiak TM, Ward NJ, Yankovskaya V, Oliver KM, Cecchini G, Sulikowski GA, Tyska MJ, Sullam PM, Iverson TM. A structural model for binding of the serine-rich repeat adhesin GspB to host carbohydrate receptors. PLoS Pathog 2011; 7:e1002112. [PMID: 21765814 PMCID: PMC3131266 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2011] [Accepted: 04/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
GspB is a serine-rich repeat (SRR) adhesin of Streptococcus gordonii that mediates binding of this organism to human platelets via its interaction with sialyl-T antigen on the receptor GPIbα. This interaction appears to be a major virulence determinant in the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis. To address the mechanism by which GspB recognizes its carbohydrate ligand, we determined the high-resolution x-ray crystal structure of the GspB binding region (GspB(BR)), both alone and in complex with a disaccharide precursor to sialyl-T antigen. Analysis of the GspB(BR) structure revealed that it is comprised of three independently folded subdomains or modules: 1) an Ig-fold resembling a CnaA domain from prokaryotic pathogens; 2) a second Ig-fold resembling the binding region of mammalian Siglecs; 3) a subdomain of unique fold. The disaccharide was found to bind in a pocket within the Siglec subdomain, but at a site distinct from that observed in mammalian Siglecs. Confirming the biological relevance of this binding pocket, we produced three isogenic variants of S. gordonii, each containing a single point mutation of a residue lining this binding pocket. These variants have reduced binding to carbohydrates of GPIbα. Further examination of purified GspB(BR)-R484E showed reduced binding to sialyl-T antigen while S. gordonii harboring this mutation did not efficiently bind platelets and showed a significant reduction in virulence, as measured by an animal model of endocarditis. Analysis of other SRR proteins revealed that the predicted binding regions of these adhesins also had a modular organization, with those known to bind carbohydrate receptors having modules homologous to the Siglec and Unique subdomains of GspB(BR). This suggests that the binding specificity of the SRR family of adhesins is determined by the type and organization of discrete modules within the binding domains, which may affect the tropism of organisms for different tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasia M. Pyburn
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Barbara A. Bensing
- Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Yan Q. Xiong
- Department of Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, United States of America
| | - Bruce J. Melancon
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Thomas M. Tomasiak
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Nicholas J. Ward
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Victoria Yankovskaya
- Molecular Biology Division, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Kevin M. Oliver
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Gary Cecchini
- Molecular Biology Division, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Gary A. Sulikowski
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Matthew J. Tyska
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Paul M. Sullam
- Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - T. M. Iverson
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Larson MR, Rajashankar KR, Crowley PJ, Kelly C, Mitchell TJ, Brady LJ, Deivanayagam C. Crystal structure of the C-terminal region of Streptococcus mutans antigen I/II and characterization of salivary agglutinin adherence domains. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:21657-66. [PMID: 21505225 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.231100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The Streptococcus mutans antigen I/II (AgI/II) is a cell surface-localized protein that adheres to salivary components and extracellular matrix molecules. Here we report the 2.5 Å resolution crystal structure of the complete C-terminal region of AgI/II. The C-terminal region is comprised of three major domains: C(1), C(2), and C(3). Each domain adopts a DE-variant IgG fold, with two β-sheets whose A and F strands are linked through an intramolecular isopeptide bond. The adherence of the C-terminal AgI/II fragments to the putative tooth surface receptor salivary agglutinin (SAG), as monitored by surface plasmon resonance, indicated that the minimal region of binding was contained within the first and second DE-variant-IgG domains (C(1) and C(2)) of the C terminus. The minimal C-terminal region that could inhibit S. mutans adherence to SAG was also confirmed to be within the C(1) and C(2) domains. Competition experiments demonstrated that the C- and N-terminal regions of AgI/II adhere to distinct sites on SAG. A cleft formed at the intersection between these C(1) and C(2) domains bound glucose molecules from the cryo-protectant solution, revealing a putative binding site for its highly glycosylated receptor SAG. Finally, electron microscopy images confirmed the elongated structure of AgI/II and enabled building a composite tertiary model that encompasses its two distinct binding regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Larson
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
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50
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Vengadesan K, Narayana SVL. Structural biology of Gram-positive bacterial adhesins. Protein Sci 2011; 20:759-72. [PMID: 21404359 DOI: 10.1002/pro.613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2011] [Revised: 02/16/2011] [Accepted: 02/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The structural biology of Gram-positive cell surface adhesins is an emerging field of research, whereas Gram-negative pilus assembly and anchoring have been extensively investigated and are well understood. Gram-positive surface proteins known as MSCRAMMs (microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules) and individual proteins that assemble into long, hair-like organelles known as pili have similar features at the primary sequence level as well as at the tertiary structural level. Some of these conserved features are essential for their transportation from the cytoplasm and for cell wall anchoring. More importantly, the MSCRAMMs and the individual pilins are assembled with building blocks that are variants of structural modules used for human immunoglobulins. MSCRAMMs target the host's extracellular matrix proteins, such as collagen, fibrinogen, and fibronectin, and they have received considerable attention from structural biologists in the last decade, who have primarily been interested in understanding their interactions with host tissue. The recent focus is on the newly discovered pili of Gram-positive bacteria, and in this review, we highlight the advances in understanding of the individual pilus constituents and their associations and stress the similarities between the individual pilins and surface proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishnan Vengadesan
- School of Optometry and Center for Biophysical Sciences and Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
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