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The crystal structure of the ligand‐binding region of serine‐glutamate repeat containing protein A (SgrA) of Enterococcus faecium reveals a new protein fold: functional characterization and insights into its adhesion function
Author(s) -
Nagarajan Revathi,
Hendrickx Antoni P. A.,
Ponnuraj Karthe
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/febs.13792
Subject(s) - biology , serine , protein structure , serine protease , binding site , ligand (biochemistry) , biochemistry , receptor , protease , enzyme
Antimicrobial‐resistant and hospital‐adapted Enterococcus faecium represents a clinical problem in immunocompromised patients in hospitals worldwide. Understanding the molecular pathogenesis of E. faecium infections may provide novel therapies to treat or prevent infections. A potential target for novel treatment therapies is the serine‐glutamate repeat containing protein A (SgrA), which is a cell wall‐anchored LP x TG surface protein implicated in binding to fibrinogen and nidogen. Here, we report the X‐ray crystal structure of the N‐terminal ligand‐binding domain of SgrA ( rS grA 28–153 ) to a resolution of 1.79 Å. The structure revealed a new protein fold with significant differences from previously characterized DE v‐IgG‐ and inv‐IgG‐like folds of adhesive proteins known as microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules. The structure contains a Lys–Asn–Glu triad with the potential to form a Lys–Asn isopeptide bond. However, even in the absence of a stabilizing intramolecular isopeptide bond, rS grA 28–153 exhibits remarkable properties like resistance to proteases and high thermal stability. The interaction of rS grA 28–153 with fibrinogen, nidogen, laminin, and abiotic surfaces has been characterized and rS grA 28–153 binds to these molecules with high affinity. rS grA 28–153 also binds to the beta chain of fibrinogen and with high affinity and specificity. Strikingly, the presence of 29 surface‐exposed hydrophobic amino acid residues likely play an important role in the selectivity of rS grA 28–153 to bind to different abiotic surfaces. The results obtained from this study have opened new avenues to explore and understand the role of this unique surface adhesin in the pathogenesis of catheter‐related infections. PDB accession code The coordinates and structure factors for rS grA 28–153 have been deposited with the accession code 5FCE .