Characterization of a nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae thermonuclease

PLoS One. 2018 May 10;13(5):e0197010. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197010. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) has been shown to form biofilms, comprised of extracellular DNA (eDNA), in the middle ear and bronchus during clinical infections. Studies in our laboratory have shown that NTHi possesses a homolog of Staphylococcus aureus thermonuclease (staphylococcal thermonuclease), NTHi nuclease (NTHi Nuc, HI_1296). This enzyme had similar size, heat stability, and divalent cation requirements to those of the staphylococcal homolog as determined by light scattering and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis suggested an overall shape and substrate-binding site comparable to those of staphylococcal nuclease. However, NTHi Nuc was approximately 25-fold more active in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) activity assay than staphylococcal thermonuclease. Homology modeling implicates shorter NTHi Nuc loops near the active site for this enhanced activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Haemophilus influenzae / enzymology*
  • Micrococcal Nuclease / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Structural Homology, Protein

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Micrococcal Nuclease