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Giblin SP, McKenna S, Matthews S, Sriskandan S, Pease JE. The N-terminal ELR + motif of the neutrophil attractant CXCL8 confers susceptibility to degradation by the Group A streptococcal protease, SpyCEP. J Biol Chem 2025; 301:108448. [PMID: 40147770 PMCID: PMC12022482 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2025.108448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2025] [Accepted: 03/13/2025] [Indexed: 03/29/2025] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus or GAS) is a major human pathogen for which an effective vaccine is highly desirable. Invasive S. pyogenes strains evade the host immune response in part by producing a cell envelope protease, SpyCEP. This neutralizes chemokines containing an N-terminal Glu-Leu-Arg motif (ELR+ chemokines) by cleavage at a distal C-terminal site within the chemokine. SpyCEP is a component of several S. pyogenes vaccines, yet the molecular determinants underlying substrate selectivity are poorly understood. We hypothesized that chemokine recognition and cleavage is a multistep process involving distinct domains of both substrate and enzyme. We generated a panel of recombinant CXCL8 variants where domains of the chemokine were exchanged or mutated. Chemokine degradation by SpyCEP was assessed by SDS-PAGE, Western blot, and ELISA. Extension of the CXCL8 N-terminus was found to inhibit chemokine cleavage. Reciprocal exchanges of the N-termini of CXCL8 with that of the ELR- chemokine CXCL4 resulted in the generation of loss of function and gain of function substrates. This suggested a key role for the ELR motif in substrate recognition, which was supported directly by alanine substitution of the ELR motif of CXCL8, impairing the parameters, KM, Vmax, and Kcat in kinetic assays with SpyCEP. Collectively, our findings identify the N-terminal ELR motif as a major determinant for recognition by SpyCEP and expose a vulnerability in the mechanism by which the protease recognises its substrates. This likely presents potential avenues for therapeutic intervention via targeted vaccine design and small molecule inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Patrick Giblin
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie McKenna
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Matthews
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shiranee Sriskandan
- Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - James Edward Pease
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
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Tufail A, Akkad S, Noble AR, Fascione MA, Signoret N. New insight into a simple high-yielding method for the production of fully folded and functional recombinant human CCL5. Sci Rep 2024; 14:24188. [PMID: 39406925 PMCID: PMC11480376 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-75327-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 10/04/2024] [Indexed: 10/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemokines are proteins important for a range of biological processes from cell-directed migration (chemotaxis) to cell activation and differentiation. Chemokine C-C ligand 5 (CCL5) is an important pro-inflammatory chemokine attracting immune cells towards inflammatory sites through interaction with its receptors CCR1/3/5. Recombinant production of large quantities of CCL5 in Escherichia coli is challenging due to formation of inclusion bodies which necessitates refolding, often leading to low recovery of biologically active protein. To combat this, we have developed a method for CCL5 production that utilises the purification of SUMO tagged CCL5 from E. coli SHuffle cells avoiding the need to reform disulfide bonds through inclusion body purification and yields high quantities of CCL5 (~ 25 mg/L). We demonstrated that the CCL5 produced was fully functional by assessing well-established cellular changes triggered by CCL5 binding to CCR5, including receptor phosphorylation and internalisation, intracellular signalling leading to calcium flux, as well as cell migration. Overall, we demonstrate that the use of solubility tags, SHuffle cells and low pH dialysis constitutes an approach that increases purification yields of active CCL5 with low endotoxin contamination for biological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afzaal Tufail
- Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Saeed Akkad
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Amanda R Noble
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
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Jiang H, Li J, Jian Y, Yang T, Zhang J, Li J. Expression, purification, and crystal structure of mpox virus A41 protein. Protein Expr Purif 2024; 219:106480. [PMID: 38588871 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2024.106480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Mpox is a zoonotic disease that was once endemic in Africa countries caused by mpox virus. However, cases recently have been confirmed in many non-endemic countries outside of Africa. The rapidly increasing number of confirmed mpox cases poses a threat to the international community. In-depth studies of key viral factors are urgently needed, which will inform the design of multiple antiviral agents. Mpox virus A41L gene encodes a secreted protein, A41, that is nonessential for viral replication, but could affect the host response to infection via interacting with chemokines. Here, mpox virus A41 protein was expressed in Sf9 cells, and purified by affinity chromatography followed by gel filtration. Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy showed that purified A41 binds a certain human chemokine CXCL8 with the equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) being 1.22 × 10-6 M. The crystal structure of mpox virus A41 protein was solved at 1.92 Å. Structural analysis and comparison revealed that mpox virus A41 protein adopts a characteristic β-sheet topology, showing minor differences with that of vaccinia virus. These preliminary structural and functional studies of A41 protein from mpox virus will help us better understand its role in chemokine subversion, and contributing to the knowledge to viral chemokine binding proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihai Jiang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
| | - Juncheng Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Yuxin Jian
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Tingting Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China.
| | - Jian Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
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McKenna S, Aylward F, Miliara X, Lau RJ, Huemer CB, Giblin SP, Huse KK, Liang M, Reeves L, Pearson M, Xu Y, Rouse SL, Pease JE, Sriskandan S, Kagawa TF, Cooney J, Matthews S. The protease associated (PA) domain in ScpA from Streptococcus pyogenes plays a role in substrate recruitment. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2023; 1871:140946. [PMID: 37562488 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2023.140946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Annually, over 18 million disease cases and half a million deaths worldwide are estimated to be caused by Group A Streptococcus. ScpA (or C5a peptidase) is a well characterised member of the cell enveleope protease family, which possess a S8 subtilisin-like catalytic domain and a shared multi-domain architecture. ScpA cleaves complement factors C5a and C3a, impairing the function of these critical anaphylatoxins and disrupts complement-mediated innate immunity. Although the high resolution structure of ScpA is known, the details of how it recognises its substrate are only just emerging. Previous studies have identified a distant exosite on the 2nd fibronectin domain that plays an important role in recruitment via an interaction with the substrate core. Here, using a combination of solution NMR spectroscopy, mutagenesis with functional assays and computational approaches we identify a second exosite within the protease-associated (PA) domain. We propose a model in which the PA domain assists optimal delivery of the substrate's C terminus to the active site for cleavage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie McKenna
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Frances Aylward
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Xeni Miliara
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Rikin J Lau
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Camilla Berg Huemer
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Sean P Giblin
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Kristin K Huse
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK; Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Mingyang Liang
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Lucy Reeves
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Max Pearson
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Yingqi Xu
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Sarah L Rouse
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - James E Pease
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Shiranee Sriskandan
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK; Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Todd F Kagawa
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Jakki Cooney
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland; Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Stephen Matthews
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus SW7 2AZ, UK; Centre for Bacterial Resistance Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
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Giblin SP, Ranawana S, Hassibi S, Birchenough HL, Mincham KT, Snelgrove RJ, Tsuchiya T, Kanegasaki S, Dyer D, Pease JE. CXCL17 binds efficaciously to glycosaminoglycans with the potential to modulate chemokine signaling. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1254697. [PMID: 37942327 PMCID: PMC10628517 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1254697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction CXCL17 is a mucosally secreted protein, and the most recently identified human chemokine, an assignment based on protein fold prediction and chemotactic activity for leukocytes. However, these credentials have been the subject of much recent discussion and no experimental evidence has been presented regarding the definitive structure of CXCL17. In this study, we evaluated the structural and chemoattractant credentials of CXCL17 to better characterize this molecule, and gain deeper insights into its functional role as a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) binding protein. Methods In the absence of structural information, in silico modeling techniques assessed the likelihood of CXCL17 adopting a chemokine fold. Recombinant CXCL17 was synthesized in mammalian and prokaryotic systems. Modified Boyden chamber and real-time chemotaxis assays assessed the ability of CXCL17 to promote chemotaxis of murine splenocytes, human neutrophils, and CXCR1 transfectants. The efficacy of CXCL17 binding to GAGs was quantified with solid-phase assays and bio-layer interferometry techniques. Results All modeling efforts failed to support classification of CXCL17 as a chemokine based on its predicted conformation. Recombinant CXCL17 was observed to dimerize as a function of concentration, a characteristic of several chemokines. Contrary to a previous report, CXCL17 was not chemotactic for murine splenocytes, although it was a low-potency chemoattractant for human neutrophils at micromolar concentrations, several orders of magnitude higher than those required for CXCL8. As anticipated owing to its highly basic nature, CXCL17 bound to GAGs robustly, with key C-terminal motifs implicated in this process. While inactive via CXCR1, CXCL17 was found to inhibit CXCR1-mediated chemotaxis of transfectants to CXCL8 in a dose-dependent manner. Discussion In summary, despite finding little evidence for chemokine-like structure and function, CXCL17 readily bound GAGs, and could modulate chemotactic responses to another chemokine in vitro. We postulate that such modulation is a consequence of superior GAG binding, and that C-terminal fragments of CXCL17 may serve as prototypic inhibitors of chemokine function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P. Giblin
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sashini Ranawana
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shyreen Hassibi
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Holly L. Birchenough
- Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Kyle T. Mincham
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert J. Snelgrove
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tomoko Tsuchiya
- Research Institute, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Japan
| | | | - Douglas Dyer
- Wellcome Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance NHS Group, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - James E. Pease
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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