C-terminus of TRAP in Staphylococcus can enhance the activity of lysozyme and lysostaphin

Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai). 2008 May;40(5):452-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7270.2008.00415.x.

Abstract

In Staphylococcus aureus, the target of RNAIII activating protein (TRAP) is a membrane-associated protein whose C-terminus can be used as a vaccine to provide protection against staphylococcal infection. Here, we show for the first time by surface plasmon resonance and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that TRAP can specifically bind lysozyme and lysostaphin through its C-terminus (amino acids 155-167) and enhance lysozomal activities in vitro. It was also found that the traP mutant strain is more resistant to lysostaphin than wild-type. Our previous data showed that the C-terminus of TRAP might be extracellular. So our results suggested that the C-terminus of TRAP could act as the specific targeting protein of the lysozyme/lysostaphin on the S. aureus cell wall and the biological significance of the interaction might be to facilitate lysozyme/lysostaphin-mediated cell lysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Binding Sites
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Lysostaphin / chemistry*
  • Muramidase / chemistry*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • MtrB protein, Bacteria
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Muramidase
  • Lysostaphin