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Extreme sequence divergence but conserved ligand-binding specificity in Streptococcus pyogenes M protein.

ABSTRACT: Many pathogenic microorganisms evade host immunity through extensive sequence variability in a protein region targeted by protective antibodies. In spite of the sequence variability, a variable region commonly retains an important ligand-binding function, reflected in the presence of a highly conserved sequence motif. Here, we analyze the limits of sequence divergence in a ligand-binding region by characterizing the hypervariable region (HVR) of Streptococcus pyogenes M protein. Our studies were focused on HVRs that bind the human complement regulator C4b-binding protein (C4BP), a ligand that confers phagocytosis resistance. A previous comparison of C4BP-binding HVRs identified residue identities that could be part of a binding motif, but the extended analysis reported here shows that no residue identities remain when additional C4BP-binding HVRs are included. Characterization of the HVR in the M22 protein indicated that two relatively conserved Leu residues are essential for C4BP binding, but these residues are probably core residues in a coiled-coil, implying that they do not directly contribute to binding. In contrast, substitution of either of two relatively conserved Glu residues, predicted to be solvent-exposed, had no effect on C4BP binding, although each of these changes had a major effect on the antigenic properties of the HVR. Together, these findings show that HVRs of M proteins have an extraordinary capacity for sequence divergence and antigenic variability while retaining a specific ligand-binding function.

SUBMITTER: Persson J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1464397 | biostudies-literature | 2006 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Extreme sequence divergence but conserved ligand-binding specificity in Streptococcus pyogenes M protein.

Persson Jenny J Beall Bernard B Linse Sara S Lindahl Gunnar G

PLoS pathogens 20060526 5

Many pathogenic microorganisms evade host immunity through extensive sequence variability in a protein region targeted by protective antibodies. In spite of the sequence variability, a variable region commonly retains an important ligand-binding function, reflected in the presence of a highly conserved sequence motif. Here, we analyze the limits of sequence divergence in a ligand-binding region by characterizing the hypervariable region (HVR) of Streptococcus pyogenes M protein. Our studies were ...[more]

PMID: 16733543

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Project description:A recent clinical report has linked Streptococcus pyogenes ?-lactam antibiotic resistance to mutation in the penicillin binding protein (PBP) PBP2x. To determine whether this is an isolated case or reflects a broader prevalence of mutations that might confer reduced ?-lactam susceptibility, we investigated the relative frequency of PBP sequence variation within a global database of 9,667 S. pyogenes isolates. We found that mutations in S. pyogenes PBPs (PBP2x, PBP1a, PBP1b, and PBP2a) occur infrequently across this global database, with fewer than 3 amino acid changes differing between >99% of the global population. Only 4 of the 9,667 strains contained mutations near transpeptidase active sites of PBP2x or PBP1a. The reported PBP2x T553K substitution was not identified. These findings are in contrast to those of 2,520 S. pneumococcus sequences where PBP mutations are relatively frequent and are often located in key ?-lactam binding pockets. These data, combined with the general lack of penicillin resistance reported in S. pyogenes worldwide, suggests that extensive, unknown constraints restrict S. pyogenes PBP sequence plasticity. Our findings imply that while heavy antibiotic pressure may select for mutations in the PBPs, there is currently no evidence of such mutations becoming fixed in the S. pyogenes population or that mutations are being sequentially acquired in the PBPs.IMPORTANCE ?-Lactam antibiotics are the first-line therapeutic option for Streptococcus pyogenes infections. Despite the global high prevalence of S. pyogenes infections and widespread use of ?-lactams worldwide, reports of resistance to ?-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, have been incredibly rare. Recently, ?-lactam resistance, as defined by clinical breakpoints, was detected in two clinical S. pyogenes isolates with accompanying mutations in the active site of the penicillin binding protein PBP2x, raising concerns that ?-lactam resistance will become more widespread. We screened a global database of S. pyogenes genome sequences to investigate the frequency of PBP mutations, identifying that PBP mutations are uncommon relative to those of Streptococcus pneumoniae These findings support clinical observations that ?-lactam resistance is rare in S. pyogenes and suggest that there are considerable constraints on S. pyogenes PBP sequence variation.

Project description:The sequence of the fibronectin-binding domain of the fibronectin-binding protein of Streptococcus pyogenes (Sfb protein) was determined, and its role in streptococcal adherence was investigated by use of an Sfb fusion protein in adherence studies. A 1-kb DNA fragment coding for the binding domain of Sfb protein was cloned into the expression vector pEX31 to produce an Sfb fusion protein consisting of the N-terminal part of MS2 polymerase and a C-terminal fragment of the streptococcal protein. Induction of the vector promoter resulted in hyperexpression of fibronectin-binding fusion protein in the cytoplasm of the recombinant Escherichia coli cells. Sequence determination of the cloned 1-kb fragment revealed an in-frame reading frame for a 268-amino-acid peptide composed of a 37-amino-acid sequence which is completely repeated three times and incompletely repeated a fourth time. Cloning of one repeat into pEX31 resulted in expression of small fusion peptides that show fibronectin-binding activity, indicating that one repeat contains at least one binding domain. Each repeat exhibits two charged domains and shows high homology with the 38-amino-acid D3 repeat of the fibronectin-binding protein of Staphylococcus aureus. Sequence comparison with other streptococcal ligand-binding surface proteins, including M protein, failed to reveal significant homology, which suggests that Sfb protein represents a novel type of functional protein in S. pyogenes. The Sfb fusion protein isolated from the cytoplasm of recombinant cells was purified by fast protein liquid chromatography. It showed a strong competitive inhibition of fibronectin binding to S. pyogenes and of the adherence of bacteria to cultured epithelial cells. In contrast, purified streptococcal lipoteichoic acid showed only a weak inhibition of fibronectin binding and streptococcal adherence. These results demonstrate that Sfb protein is directly involved in the fibronectin-mediated adherence of S. pyogenes to epithelial cells.

Dataset Information

Extreme sequence divergence but conserved ligand-binding specificity in Streptococcus pyogenes M protein.

Publications

Extreme sequence divergence but conserved ligand-binding specificity in Streptococcus pyogenes M protein.

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