The streptococcal binding site in the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin is consistent with a non-linear arrangement of modules

J Biol Chem. 2010 Nov 19;285(47):36977-83. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.156935. Epub 2010 Sep 15.

Abstract

Fibronectin-binding proteins (FnBPs) of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes mediate invasion of human endothelial and epithelial cells in a process likely to aid the persistence and/or dissemination of infection. In addition to binding sites for the N-terminal domain (NTD) of fibronectin (Fn), a number of streptococcal FnBPs also contain an upstream region (UR) that is closely associated with an NTD-binding region; UR binds to the adjacent gelatin-binding domain (GBD) of Fn. Previously, UR was shown to be required for efficient streptococcal invasion of epithelial cells. Here we show, using a Streptococcus zooepidemicus FnBP, that the UR-binding site in GBD resides largely in the (8)F1(9)F1 module pair. We also show that UR inhibits binding of a peptide from the α1 chain of type I collagen to (8)F1(9)F1 and that UR binding to (8)F1 is likely to occur through anti-parallel β-zipper formation. Thus, we propose that streptococcal proteins that contain adjacent NTD- and GBD-binding sites form a highly unusual extended tandem β-zipper that spans the two domains and mediates high affinity binding to Fn through a large intermolecular interface. The proximity of the UR- and NTD-binding sequences in streptococcal FnBPs is consistent with a non-linear arrangement of modules in the tertiary structure of the GBD of Fn.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Fibronectins / chemistry
  • Fibronectins / genetics
  • Fibronectins / metabolism*
  • Gelatin / chemistry
  • Gelatin / genetics
  • Gelatin / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Streptococcus equi / genetics
  • Streptococcus equi / growth & development
  • Streptococcus equi / metabolism*

Substances

  • Fibronectins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Gelatin