A new structural class of bacterial thioester domains reveals a slipknot topology

This work was supported by the MRC, UK grant MR/K001485 for MJB, USL; the BBSRC, UK grant BB/J00453 and the John Innes Foundation for MJB; The Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Carnegie Trust for OKM.An increasing number of surface‐associated proteins identified in Gram‐positive bacteria are characterized by intramolecular cross‐links in structurally conserved thioester, isopeptide, and ester domains (TIE proteins). Two classes of thioester domains (TEDs) have been predicted based on sequence with, to date, only representatives of Class I structurally characterized. Here, we present crystal structures of three Class II TEDs from Bacillus anthracis, vancomycin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus faecium. These proteins are structurally distinct from Class I TEDs due to a β‐sandwich domain that is inserted into the conserved TED fold to form a slipknot structure. Further, the B. anthracis TED domain is presented in the context of a full‐length sortase‐anchored protein structure (BaTIE). This provides insight into the three‐dimensional arrangement of TIE proteins, which emerge as very abundant putative adhesins of Gram‐positive bacteria.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

An internal thioester in a pathogen surface protein mediates covalent host binding

This work was supported by the MRC, UK grant MR/K001485 for MW, JME, MR, MJB, USL; the BBSRC, UK grant BB/J00453 and the John Innes Foundation for MJB; the Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund 097831/Z/11/B for AMD; Wellcome Trust/JIF award 063597 and Wellcome Trust grants WT079272AIA and 094476/Z/10/Z to CHB for the BSRC Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility; University of St Andrews and School of Biology for SYK; The Carnegie Trust for OKM.To cause disease and persist in a host, pathogenic and commensal microbes must adhere to tissues. Colonization and infection depend on specific molecular interactions at the host-microbe interface that involve microbial surface proteins, or adhesins. To date, adhesins are only known to bind to host receptors non-covalently. Here we show that the streptococcal surface protein SfbI mediates covalent interaction with the host protein fibrinogen using an unusual internal thioester bond as a ‘chemical harpoon’. This cross-linking reaction allows bacterial attachment to fibrin and SfbI binding to human cells in a model of inflammation. Thioester-containing domains are unexpectedly prevalent in Gram-positive bacteria, including many clinically relevant pathogens. Our findings support bacterial-encoded covalent binding as a new molecular principle in host-microbe interactions. This represents an as yet unexploited target to treat bacterial infection and may also offer novel opportunities for engineering beneficial interactions.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe