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High avidity drives the interaction between the streptococcal C1 phage endolysin, PlyC, with the cell surface carbohydrates of Group A Streptococcus
Author(s) -
Broendum Sebastian S.,
Williams Daniel E.,
Hayes Brooke K.,
Kraus Felix,
Fodor James,
Clifton Ben E.,
Geert Volbeda Anne,
Codee Jeroen D. C.,
Riley Blake T.,
Drinkwater Nyssa,
Farrow Kylie A.,
Tsyganov Kirill,
Heselpoth Ryan D.,
Nelson Daniel C.,
Jackson Colin J.,
Buckle Ashley M.,
McGowan Sheena
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/mmi.14719
Subject(s) - lysin , biology , lytic cycle , peptidoglycan , avidity , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteriophage , bacterial cell structure , lysis , cell wall , streptococcus pyogenes , biochemistry , bacteria , virology , immunology , genetics , antibody , escherichia coli , virus , gene , staphylococcus aureus
Endolysin enzymes from bacteriophage cause bacterial lysis by degrading the peptidoglycan cell wall. The streptococcal C1 phage endolysin PlyC, is the most potent endolysin described to date and can rapidly lyse group A, C, and E streptococci. PlyC is known to bind the Group A streptococcal cell wall, but the specific molecular target or the binding site within PlyC remain uncharacterized. Here we report for the first time, that the polyrhamnose backbone of the Group A streptococcal cell wall is the binding target of PlyC. We have also characterized the putative rhamnose binding groove of PlyC and found four key residues that were critical to either the folding or the cell wall binding action of PlyC. Based on our results, we suggest that the interaction between PlyC and the cell wall may not be a high‐affinity interaction as previously proposed, but rather a high avidity one, allowing for PlyC’s remarkable lytic activity. Resistance to our current antibiotics is reaching crisis levels and there is an urgent need to develop the antibacterial agents with new modes of action. A detailed understanding of this potent endolysin may facilitate future developments of PlyC as a tool against the rise of antibiotic resistance.