Isolation and Characterization of Heparin from Human Mastocytoma Tissue

Polysaccharide was isolated from human spleen mastocytoma by proteolytic digestion, precipitation with cetylpyridinium chloride, digestion with chondroitinase ABC, and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The final product (0.7 mg per g of starting material, MW 8000) behaved like standard heparin on ion-exchange chromatography and on electrophoresis, and contained D-glucuronic acid, L-iduronic acid, D-glucosamine and sulfate in the proportions expected for heparin.

Affinity chromatography on antithrombin-Sepharose separated a distinct high-affinity fraction (4–5% of the total material). Structural analysis of this fraction showed that about 10% of the D-glucosamine residues were N-acetylated, the remainder N-sulfated.

The anticoagulant activity of the isolated heparin was 71 B.P. units per mg (whole-blood system), or 30 units per mg (antithrombin and chromogenic substrate). 205 and 10–15 units per mg (chromogenic assay) were found for high and low affinity fractions, respectively. These results demonstrate conclusively the occurrence of heparin in a human tissue.

Multilayer vascular grafts based on collagen-mimetic proteins

A major roadblock in the development of an off-the-shelf, small-caliber vascular graft is achieving rapid endothelialization of the conduit while minimizing the risk of thrombosis, intimal hyperplasia, and mechanical failure. To address this need, a collagen-mimetic protein derived from group A Streptococcus, Scl2.28 (Scl2), was conjugated into a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel to generate bioactive hydrogels that bind to endothelial cells (ECs) and resist platelet adhesion. The PEG-Scl2 hydrogel was then reinforced with an electrospun polyurethane mesh to achieve suitable biomechanical properties. In the current study, initial evaluation of this multilayer design as a potential off-the-shelf graft was conducted. First, electrospinning parameters were varied to achieve composite burst pressure, compliance, and suture retention strength that matched reported values of saphenous vein autografts. Composite stability following drying, sterilization, and physiological conditioning under pulsatile flow was then demonstrated. Scl2 bioactivity was also maintained after drying and sterilization as indicated by EC adhesion and spreading. Evaluation of platelet adhesion, aggregation, and activation indicated that PEG-Scl2 hydrogels had minimal platelet interactions and thus appear to provide a thromboresistant blood contacting layer. Finally, evaluation of EC migration speed demonstrated that PEG-Scl2 hydrogels promoted higher migration speeds than PEG-collagen analogs and that migration speed was readily tuned by altering protein concentration. Collectively, these results indicate that this multilayer design warrants further investigation and may have the potential to improve on current synthetic options.

Bioactive hydrogels based on Designer Collagens

Designer Collagens are based on streptococcal collagen-like (Scl) proteins that form a triple helix similar to mammalian collagens but that are non-platelet aggregating. In contrast to the numerous cell-binding sites on collagen, Scl2 from Streptococcus pyogenes serotype M28 does not contain any known cell-binding sites and thus provides a blank slate in terms of cellular interactions. In the current study, Scl2 protein was modified to include receptor binding motifs that interact with alpha1 and/or alpha2 integrin subunits. The modfied Scl2 proteins have been demonstrated to mediate differential endothelial cell (EC) and smooth muscle cell (SMC) adhesion via these integrins and to retain the non-platelet aggregating properties of the "parent" Scl2. Thromboresistant scaffolds which selectively bind ECs vs. SMCs would be desirable for vascular repair or replacement. Despite the potential of these Scl proteins in vascular applications, the utility of this recombinant protein family is currently limited to coatings due to the inability of Scl proteins to assemble into stable three-dimensional networks. To address this limitation, the Scl2 proteins were functionalized with photocrosslinking sites to enable incorporation into a hydrogel matrix. Characterization studies confirmed that the functionalization of the Scl2 proteins did not disrupt triple helix conformation, integrin binding or cell adhesion. Bioactive hydrogels were fabricated by combining the functionalized Scl2 proteins with poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and photocrosslinking. EC and SMC adhesion studies confirmed cell-specific adhesion due to selective integrin binding to the two receptor binding motifs investigated. These results serve to highlight the potential of this novel biomaterial platform in the development of improved tissue engineered vascular grafts.

Proteoglycans in basement membranes

Previous studies have shown that sulphated proteoglycans are integral components of basement membranes. We have used mouse parietal yolk sac cells as a model system for our studies. These cells produce several basement membrane components, including a heparan sulphate proteoglycan and a chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan. The structure of the heparan sulphate proteoglycan has been described previously. The chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan has an Mr of 200 000-300 000 and contains 10-20 chondroitin sulphate chains (Mr = 14 000-16 000), attached to a core protein that on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis appears as a doublet (with Mr = 34 000 and 27 000). Further structural analysis suggests that the majority of the polysaccharide chains are clustered around one segment of the core protein. The polysaccharide chains carry sulphate residues predominantly attached to C-4 of the galactosamine unit. More than 60% of the uronic acid residues are of the glucuronic configuration, the rest being iduronic acid. The parietal yolk sac cells secrete about equal amounts of the two proteoglycans into the culture medium, whereas heparan sulphate proteoglycan is the predominant proteoglycan found in the extracellular matrix of these cells. This proteoglycan appears to be anchored in the matrix by interactions involving the core protein rather than the polysaccharide chains.

Functions of proteoglycans at the cell surface

Proteoglycans (primarily heparan sulphate proteoglycans) are found at the surface of most adherent eukaryotic cells. Earlier studies suggest that these molecules can be associated with the cell surface principally by two different mechanisms. Proteoglycans may occur as membrane-intercalated glycoproteins, where the core protein of the proteoglycan is anchored in the lipid interior of the plasma membrane, or they may be bound via the polysaccharide components of the molecule to specific anchoring proteins present at the cell surface. A number of functions have been proposed for cell surface-associated proteoglycans, including: regulation of cell-substrate adhesion; regulation of cell proliferation; participation in the binding and uptake of extracellular components; and participation in the regulation of extracellular matrix formation. Evidence is discussed suggesting that the cell-associated heparan sulphate helps to connect the intracellular cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix in focal adhesions. This evidence includes: the co-localization of actin and heparan sulphate proteoglycan during the process of cell spreading, and in isolated focal adhesions; biochemical analyses of a hydrophobic heparan sulphate proteoglycan from isolated focal adhesions; and the formation of focal adhesions on substrates made from isolated fibronectin fragments requires the presence of a heparan sulphate-binding site.

Fibronectin-binding protein A of Staphylococcus aureus has multiple, substituting, binding regions that mediate adherence to fibronectin and invasion of endothelial cells

Invasive Staphylococcus aureus infection frequently involves bacterial seeding from the bloodstream to other body tissues, a process necessarily involving interactions between circulating bacteria and vascular endothelial cells. Staphylococcus aureus fibronectin-binding protein is central to the invasion of endothelium, fibronectin forming a bridge between bacterial fibronectin-binding proteins and host cell receptors. To dissect further the mechanisms of invasion of endothelial cells by S. aureus, a series of truncated FnBPA proteins that lacked one or more of the A, B, C or D regions were expressed on the surface of S. aureus and tested in fibronectin adhesion, endothelial cell adhesion and invasion assays. We found that this protein has multiple, substituting, fibronectin-binding regions, each capable of conferring both adherence to fibronectin and endothelial cells, and endothelial cell invasion. By expressing S. aureus FnBPA on the surface of the non-invasive Gram-positive organism Lactococcus lactis, we have found that no other bacterial factor is required for invasion. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that, as with other cell types, invasion of endothelial cells is mediated by integrin alpha5beta1. These findings may be of relevance to the development of preventive measures against systemic infection, and bacterial spread in the bacteraemic patient.

Structural organization of the fibrinogen-binding region of the clumping factor B MSCRAMM of Staphylococcus aureus

The clumping factor B (ClfB) of Staphylococcus aureus is a surface protein that binds to fibrinogen (Ni Eidhin, D., Perkins, S., Francois, P., Vaudaux, P., Hook, M., and Foster, T. J., 1998 Mol. Microbiol. 30, 245-257). The ligand-binding activity is located in the approximately 500-residue A-region (residues 44-542), which represents the N-terminal half of the MSCRAMM protein. We now hypothesize that the ClfB A-region is composed of three subdomains, which we have named N1, N2, and N3, respectively. To examine this hypothesis, we expressed recombinant forms of the individual putative subdomains, the tandem motifs N12 and N23, and the full-length A-region N123. Far UV circular dichroism spectra showed that each subdomain is composed mainly of beta-sheets with little or no discernible alpha-helices. Heat-induced unfolding of individual subdomains occurred with a single state transition and was reversible, indicating that the subdomains can fold as discreet units. Gel permeation chromatography indicated that N2, N3, and N23 are globular. In contrast, domain N1 appeared to be elongated and conferred a somewhat elongated structure on segments containing this subdomain (i.e. N12 or N123). N123, N12, and N23 all bound to fibrinogen, but N23 had a higher affinity for fibrinogen than that observed for the full-length A-region; N123 or for N12. However, an extended N terminus of N23 was required for ligand binding. A form of N23 that was generated by proteolytic processing and lacked the N-terminal extension was unable to bind fibrinogen. Recombinant forms of individual subdomains did not bind fibrinogen. The addition of recombinant N23 effectively inhibited ClfB-mediated bacterial adherence to fibrinogen, and N123 caused some reduction in bacterial attachment, whereas N12 was essentially inactive. Antibodies raised against the central N2 domain of the A-region were the most effective at inhibiting bacterial adhesion to immobilized fibrinogen, although anti-N3 or anti-N1 antibodies also caused some reduction in ClfB-mediated adherence to fibrinogen.

Mapping the ligand-binding region of Borrelia burgdorferi fibronectin-binding protein BBK32

The cellular attachment and entry of pathogenic microorganisms can be facilitated by the expression of microbial adhesins that bind fibronectin. We have previously described a Borrelia burgdorferi gene, bbk32, that encodes a 47-kDa fibronectin-binding protein. In this study, the ligand-binding region of BBK32 from B. burgdorferi isolate B31 was localized to 32 amino acids. The bbk32 gene was cloned and sequenced from three additional B. burgdorferi isolates representing different genospecies of B. burgdorferi sensu lato. All four bbk32 genes encoded proteins having fibronectin-binding activity when expressed in Escherichia coli, and the deduced proteins shared 81 to 91% amino acid sequence identity within the ligand-binding domain. In addition, the ligand-binding region of BBK32 was found to share sequence homology with a fibronectin-binding peptide defined for protein F1 of Streptococcus pyogenes. The structural and functional similarity between the ligand-binding region of BBK32 and the UR region of protein F1 suggests a common mechanism of cellular adhesion and entry for B. burgdorferi and S. pyogenes.

SdrG, a fibrinogen-binding bacterial adhesin of the microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules subfamily from Staphylococcus epidermidis, targets the thrombin cleavage site in the Bbeta chain

Staphylococcus epidermidis is an important opportunistic pathogen and is a major cause of foreign body infections. We have characterized the ligand binding activity of SdrG, a fibrinogen-binding microbial surface component recognizing adhesive matrix molecules from S. epidermidis. Western ligand blot analysis showed that a recombinant form of the N-terminal A region of SdrG bound to the native Bbeta chain of fibrinogen (Fg) and to a recombinant form of the Bbeta chain expressed in Escherichia coli. By analyzing recombinant truncates and synthetic peptide mimetics of the Fg Bbeta chain, the binding site for SdrG was localized to residues 6-20 of this polypeptide. Recombinant SdrG bound to a synthetic 25-amino acid peptide (beta1-25) representing the N terminus of the Fg Bbeta chain with a KD of 1.4 x 10(-7) m as determined by fluorescence polarization experiments. This was similar to the apparent K(D) (0.9 x 10(-7) m) calculated from an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay where SdrG bound immobilized Fg in a concentration-dependent manner. SdrG could recognize fibrinopeptide B (residues 1-14), but with a substantially lower affinity than that observed for SdrG binding to synthetic peptides beta1-25 and beta6-20. However, SdrG does not bind to thrombin-digested Fg. Thus, SdrG appears to target the thrombin cleavage site in the Fg Bbeta chain. In fact, SdrG was found to inhibit thrombin-induced fibrinogen clotting by interfering with fibrinopeptide B release.

Binding of a peptide from aStreptococcus dysgalactiaeMSCRAMM to the N-terminal F1 module pair of human fibronectin involves both modules

Host invasion by a number of pathogenic bacteria such as staphylococci and streptococci involves binding to fibronectin, a ubiquitous extracellular matrix protein. On the bacterial side, host extracellular matrix adherence is mediated by MSCRAMMs (microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules) which, in some cases, have been identified to be important virulence factors. In this study we used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to characterize the interaction of B3, a synthetic peptide derived from an adhesin of Streptococcus dysgalactiae, with the N-terminal module pair 1F12F1 of human fibronectin. 1F12F1 chemical shift changes occurring on formation of the 1F12F1/B3 complex indicate that both modules bind to the peptide and that a similar region of each module is involved. A similar surface of the 4F15F1 module pair had previously been identified as the binding site for a fibronectin-binding peptide from Staphylococcus aureus.

Fibronectin binding protein A of Staphylococcus aureus can mediate human T lymphocyte adhesion and coactivation

The extracellular matrix protein fibronectin (FN) mediates the adhesion of bacteria as well as T lymphocytes. Mammalian cells express integrins alpha(4)beta(1) and alpha(5)beta(1) as the major FN-binding cell surface receptors. Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, also express FN-binding receptors that are important for adherence to host tissue and initiation of infection. The S. aureus FN-binding protein, FnbpA, has been previously identified, and recombinant proteins that correspond to distinct functional regions of this protein have been made. Three recombinant truncated forms of FnbpA, rFnbpA(37-881), rFnbpA(37-605), and rFnbpA(620-881), were examined for effects on in vitro adhesion and coactivation of human T lymphocytes. These proteins, when coimmobilized with anti-CD3 mAb, activated T lymphocyte proliferation. The coactivation signal generated by the rFnbpA proteins required medium containing serum with FN. Furthermore, the costimulatory signal could be restored in FN-depleted serum when the rFnbpAs were preloaded with soluble FN. Monoclonal Ab blocking studies revealed that integrin alpha(5)beta(1) is the major receptor responsible for the rFnbpA costimulatory signal. Shear flow cell detachment assays confirmed that lymphocytes can bind to FN captured by the rFnbpA proteins. These results suggest that the S. aureus rFnbpA can interact with integrin alpha(5)beta(1) via an FN bridge to mediate adhesion and costimulatory signals to T lymphocytes.

Resistance to Lyme disease in decorin-deficient mice

Microbial adhesion to the host tissue represents an early, critical step in the pathogenesis of most infectious diseases. BORRELIA: burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease (LD), expresses two surface-exposed decorin-binding adhesins, DbpA and DbpB. A decorin-deficient (Dcn(-/-)) mouse was recently developed and found to have a relatively mild phenotype. We have now examined the process of experimental LD in Dcn(-/-) mice using both needle inoculation and tick transmission of spirochetes. When exposed to low doses of the infective agent, Dcn(-/-) mice had fewer Borrelia-positive cultures from most tissues analyzed than did Dcn(+/+) or Dcn(+/-) mice. When the infection dose was increased, similar differences were not observed in most tissues but were seen in bacterial colonization of joints and the extent of Borreila-induced arthritis. Quantitative PCR demonstrated that joints harvested from Dcn(-/-) mice had diminished Borrelia numbers compared with issues harvested from Dcn(+/+) controls. Histological examination also revealed a low incidence and severity of arthritis in Dcn(-/-) mice. Conversely, no differences in the numbers of Borreila-positive skin cultures were observed among the different genotypes regardless of the infection dose. These differences, which were observed regardless of genetic background of the mice (BALB/c or C3H/HeN) or method of infection, demonstrate the importance of decorin in the pathogenesis of LD.

Crystal structure of Lyme disease antigen outer surface protein C from Borrelia burgdorferi

The outer surface protein C (OspC) is one of the major host-induced antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. We have solved the crystal structure of recombinant OspC to a resolution of 2.5 A. OspC, a largely alpha-helical protein, is a dimer with a characteristic central four-helical bundle formed by association of the two longest helices from each subunit. OspC is very different from OspA and similar to the extracellular domain of the bacterial aspartate receptor and the variant surface glycoprotein from Trypanosoma brucei. Most of the surface-exposed residues of OspC are highly variable among different OspC isolates. The membrane proximal halves of the two long alpha-helices are the only conserved regions that are solvent accessible. As vaccination with recombinant OspC has been shown to elicit a protective immune response in mice, these regions are candidates for peptide-based vaccines.

Identification of residues in the Staphylococcus aureus fibrinogen-binding MSCRAMM clumping factor A (ClfA) that are important for ligand binding

Clumping factor A (ClfA) is a cell surface-associated protein of Staphylococcus aureus that promotes binding of this pathogen to both soluble and immobilized fibrinogen (Fg). Previous studies have localized the Fg-binding activity of ClfA to residues 221-559 within the A region of this protein. In addition, the C-terminal part of the A region (residues 484-550) has been implicated as being important for Fg binding. In this study, we further investigate the involvement of this part of ClfA in the interaction of this protein with Fg. Polyclonal antibodies generated against a recombinant protein encompassing residues 500-559 of the A region inhibited the interaction of both S. aureus and recombinant ClfA with immobilized Fg in a dose-dependent manner. Using site-directed mutagenesis, two adjacent residues, Glu(526) and Val(527), were identified as being important for the activity of ClfA. S. aureus expressing ClfA containing either the E526A or V527S substitution exhibited a reduced ability to bind to soluble Fg and to adhere to immobilized Fg. Furthermore, bacteria expressing ClfA containing both substitutions were almost completely defective in Fg binding. The E526A and V527S substitutions were also introduced into recombinant ClfA (rClfA-(221-559)) expressed in Escherichia coli. The single mutant rClfA-(221-559) proteins showed a significant reduction in affinity for both immobilized Fg and a synthetic fluorescein-labeled C-terminal gamma-chain peptide compared with the wild-type protein, whereas the double mutant rClfA-(221-559) protein was almost completely defective in binding to either species. Substitution of Glu(526) and/or Val(527) did not appear to alter the secondary structure of rClfA-(221-559) as determined by far-UV circular dichroism spectroscopy. These data suggest that the C terminus of the A region may contain at least part of the Fg-binding site of ClfA and that Glu(526) and Val(527) may be involved in ligand recognition.

Multiple domains contribute to heparin/heparan sulfate binding by human HIP/L29

Human heparin/heparan sulfate interacting protein/L29 (HIP/L29) is thought to be involved in the promotion of cell adhesion, the promotion of cell growth in the cancerous state, and the modulation of blood coagulation. These activities are consistent with the proposed function of HIP/L29 as a heparin/heparan sulfate (Hp/HS) binding growth factor that has a preference for anticoagulantly active Hp/HS. Previous studies showed that a peptide derived from the C terminus of human HIP/L29 (HIP peptide-1) can selectively bind anticoagulant Hp and support cell adhesion. However, a murine ortholog does not have an identical HIP peptide-1 sequence, yet still retains the ability to bind Hp, suggesting that there may be additional Hp/HS binding sites outside of the HIP peptide-1 domain. To test this hypothesis, a systematic study of the domains within human and murine HIP/L29 responsible for Hp/HS binding activity was undertaken. Using deletion mutants, proteolytic fragments, and protease protection of HIP/L29 by Hp, we demonstrate that multiple binding domains contribute to the overall Hp/HS binding activity of HIP/L29 proteins. Furthermore, a conformational change is induced in human HIP/L29 upon Hp binding as detected by circular dichroism spectroscopy. These studies demonstrate the multiplicity of Hp/HS binding sequences within human and murine HIP/L29.

Monoclonal antibodies to CNA, a collagen-binding microbial surface component recognizing adhesive matrix molecules, detach Staphylococcus aureus from a collagen substrate

Previous studies showed that Staphylococcus aureus expresses a collagen-binding MSCRAMM (Microbial Surface Component Recognizing Adhesive Matrix Molecules), CNA, that is necessary and sufficient for S. aureus cells to adhere to cartilage and is a virulence factor in experimental septic arthritis. We have now used a monoclonal antibody (mAb) approach to further analyze the structure and function of CNA. 22 mAbs raised against the minimal ligand binding domain, CNA-(151-318), were shown to bind to the MSCRAMM with similar affinity. All mAbs appear to recognize conformation-dependent epitopes that were mapped throughout the CNA-(151-318) domain using a chimeric strategy where segments of CNA are grafted on ACE, a structurally related MSCRAMM from Enterococcus faecalis. These mAbs were able to inhibit (125)I-collagen binding to CNA-(151-318) as well as to intact S. aureus cells. They also interfered with the attachment of bacteria to collagen substrates. Furthermore, some of the mAbs could effectively displace (125)I-collagen bound to the bacteria. These displacing mAbs were also able to detach bacteria that had adhered to a collagen substrate in a preincubation, raising the possibility that some of the mAbs may be used as therapeutic agents.

Multiple binding sites in collagen type I for the integrins alpha1beta1 and alpha2beta1

Integrins alpha(1)beta(1) and alpha(2)beta(1) are two major collagen receptors on the surface of eukaryotic cells. Binding to collagen is primarily due to an A-domain near the N terminus of the alpha chains. Previously, we reported that recombinant A-domain of alpha(1)beta(1) (alpha(1)A) had at least two affinity classes of binding sites in type I collagen (Rich, R. L., et al. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 24906-24913). Here, we compared the binding of the recombinant A-domain of alpha(2)beta(1) (alpha(2)A) to type I collagen with that of alpha(1)A using surface plasmon resonance and showed that alpha(2)A exhibited only one detectable class of binding sites in type I collagen, with a K(D) of approximately 10 microm at approximately 3 binding sites per collagen molecule. We further demonstrated that alpha(1)A and alpha(2)A competed with each other for binding to type I collagen in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), suggesting that the binding sites in collagen for the two A-domains overlap or are adjacent to each other. By using rotary shadowing, the complexes of alpha(1)A- and alpha(2)A-procollagen were visualized. Morphometric analyses indicated three major binding regions (near the N terminus, in the central part, and near the C terminus) along the type I procollagen molecule for both A-domains. The positions of the respective binding regions for alpha(1)A and alpha(2)A were overlapping with or adjacent to each other, consistent with the ELISA results. Analysis of the sequences of type I collagen revealed that GER or GER-like motifs are present at each of the binding regions, and notably, the central region contains the GFOGER sequence, which was previously identified as a high affinity site for both alpha(1)A and alpha(2)A (Knight, C. G., et al. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 35-40). Peptides containing GLOGERGRO (peptide I, near the N terminus), GFOGERGVQ (peptide II, central), and GASGERGPO (peptide III, near the C terminus) were synthesized. Peptides I and II effectively inhibited the binding of alpha(1)A and alpha(2)A to type I collagen, while peptide III did so moderately. The N-terminal site in type I collagen has the sequence GLOGER in all three chains. Thus, it seems that peptide I represents a newly discovered native high affinity site for alpha(1)A and alpha(2)A.

Characterization of the collagen-binding S-layer protein CbsA of Lactobacillus crispatus

The cbsA gene of Lactobacillus crispatus strain JCM 5810, encoding a protein that mediates adhesiveness to collagens, was characterized and expressed in Escherichia coli. The cbsA open reading frame encoded a signal sequence of 30 amino acids and a mature polypeptide of 410 amino acids with typical features of a bacterial S-layer protein. The cbsA gene product was expressed as a His tag fusion protein, purified by affinity chromatography, and shown to bind solubilized as well as immobilized type I and IV collagens. Three other Lactobacillus S-layer proteins, SlpA, CbsB, and SlpnB, bound collagens only weakly, and sequence comparisons of CbsA with these S-layer proteins were used to select sites in cbsA where deletions and mutations were introduced. In addition, hybrid S-layer proteins that contained the N or the C terminus from CbsA, SlpA, or SlpnB as well as N- and C-terminally truncated peptides from CbsA were constructed by gene fusion. Analysis of these molecules revealed the major collagen-binding region within the N-terminal 287 residues and a weaker type I collagen-binding region in the C terminus of the CbsA molecule. The mutated or hybrid CbsA molecules and peptides that failed to polymerize into a periodic S-layer did not bind collagens, suggesting that the crystal structure with a regular array is optimal for expression of collagen binding by CbsA. Strain JCM 5810 was found to contain another S-layer gene termed cbsB that was 44% identical in sequence to cbsA. RNA analysis showed that cbsA, but not cbsB, was transcribed under laboratory conditions. S-layer-protein-expressing cells of strain JCM 5810 adhered to collagen-containing regions in the chicken colon, suggesting that CbsA-mediated collagen binding represents a true tissue adherence property of L. crispatus.

Cellular invasion by Staphylococcus aureus involves a fibronectin bridge between the bacterial fibronectin-binding MSCRAMMs and host cell beta1 integrins

Although Staphylococcus aureus is primarily considered an extracellular pathogen, recent evidence suggests that this bacterium can invade a variety of nonprofessional phagocytic cells. Here we investigate the early stages of cellular invasion by S. aureus and determine the bacterial and host components that are required for this process. S. aureus expresses two cell surface-associated fibronectin (FN)-binding proteins (FnbpA and FnbpB) that mediate the interaction of the bacteria with both soluble and solid-phase FN in vitro. Using a mutant of S. aureus that lacks the expression of both Fnbps, we show that the expression of either protein is necessary for efficient uptake by the mouse fibroblast line GD25beta1A. Invasion could be inhibited by soluble recombinant proteins encompassing either the FN-binding D repeat region or the A region (and B repeats) of FnbpA, suggesting that the activities of both regions are important in this process. We demonstrate that FN is also required for invasion of this cell line. In the presence of FN-depleted fetal bovine serum, the invasion level was reduced by approximately 40% compared to in the presence of whole fetal bovine serum. Invasion could be further reduced by the addition of anti-mouse FN antibodies to the assay. Finally, we utilize a mutant mouse fibroblast line, which lacks beta1 integrin expression, to demonstrate that host cell beta1 integrins are necessary for efficient cellular invasion. The level of invasion of the mutant cell line GD25 was reduced by approximately 97% compared to the beta1-expressing complemented cell line GD25beta1A. In addition, invasion of the GD25beta1A cell line could be inhibited by an RGD-containing peptide, further implicating a role for integrins in this process. Based on these observations, we put forward a model of S. aureus invasion in which host FN forms a bridge between the bacterial Fnbps and host cell beta1 integrins, leading to bacterial uptake.

Enterococcus faecalis adhesin, ace, mediates attachment to extracellular matrix proteins collagen type IV and laminin as well as collagen type I

Adhesin-mediated binding to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins is thought to be a crucial step in the pathogenic process of many bacterial infections. We have previously reported conditional adherence of most Enterococcus faecalis isolates, after growth at 46 degrees C, to ECM proteins collagen types I and IV and laminin; identified an E. faecalis-specific gene, ace, whose encoded protein has characteristics of a bacterial adhesin; and implicated Ace in binding to collagen type I. In this study, we constructed an ace disruption mutant from E. faecalis strain OG1RF that showed marked reduction in adherence to collagen types I and IV and laminin when compared to the parental OG1RF strain after growth at 46 degrees C. Polyclonal immune serum raised against the OG1RF-derived recombinant Ace A domain reacted with a single approximately 105-kDa band of mutanolysin extracts from OG1RF grown at 46 degrees C, while no band was detected in extracts from OG1RF grown at 37 degrees C, nor from the OG1RF ace mutant grown at 37 or 46 degrees C. IgGs purified from the anti-Ace A immune serum inhibited adherence of 46 degrees C-grown E. faecalis OG1RF to immobilized collagen type IV and laminin as well as collagen type I, at a concentration as low as 1 microg/ml, and also inhibited the 46 degrees C-evoked adherence of two clinical isolates tested. We also showed in vitro interaction of collagen type IV with Ace from OG1RF mutanolysin extracts on a far-Western blot. Binding of recombinant Ace A to immobilized collagen types I and IV and laminin was demonstrated in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and was shown to be concentration dependent. These results indicate that Ace A mediates the conditional binding of E. faecalis OG1RF to collagen type IV and laminin in addition to collagen type I.

The collagen-binding adhesin is a virulence factor in Staphylococcus aureus keratitis

A collagen-binding strain of Staphylococcus aureus produced suppurative inflammation in a rabbit model of soft contact lens-associated bacterial keratitis more often than its collagen-binding-negative isogenic mutant. Reintroduction of the cna gene on a multicopy plasmid into the mutant helped it regain its corneal adherence and infectivity. The topical application of a collagen-binding peptide before bacterial challenge decreased S. aureus adherence to deepithelialized corneas. These data suggest that the collagen-binding adhesin is involved in the pathogenesis of S. aureus infection of the cornea.

Novel fold and assembly of the repetitive B region of the Staphylococcus aureus collagen-binding surface protein

BACKGROUND

[corrected] The Staphylococcus aureus collagen-binding protein Cna mediates bacterial adherence to collagen. The primary sequence of Cna has a non-repetitive collagen-binding A region, followed by the repetitive B region. The B region has one to four 23 kDa repeat units (B(1)-B(4)), depending on the strain of origin. The affinity of the A region for collagen is independent of the B region. However, the B repeat units have been suggested to serve as a 'stalk' that projects the A region from the bacterial surface and thus facilitate bacterial adherence to collagen. To understand the biological role of these B-region repeats we determined their three-dimensional structure.

RESULTS

B(1) has two domains (D(1) and D(2)) placed side-by-side. D(1) and D(2) have similar secondary structure and exhibit a unique fold that resembles but is the inverse of the immunoglobulin-like (IgG-like) domains. Comparison with similar immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) structures shows novel packing arrangements between the D(1) and D(2) domains. In the B(1)B(2) crystal structure, an omission of a single glycine residue in the D(2)-D(3) linker loop, compared to the D(1)-D(2) and D(3)-D(4) linker loops, resulted in projection of the D(3) and D(4) in a spatially new orientation. We also present a model for B(1)B(2)B(3)B(4).

CONCLUSIONS

The B region of the Cna collagen adhesin has a novel fold that is reminiscent of but is inverse in nature to the IgG fold. This B region assembly could effectively provide the needed flexibility and stability for presenting the ligand binding A region away from the bacterial cell surface.

Expression and localization of PG-Lb/epiphycan during mouse development

We have examined the expression pattern of the PG-Lb/epiphycan gene that encodes a small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycan during mouse embryonic development. PG-Lb/epiphycan mRNA transcripts were first detected at E12.5 days postcoitus (dpc) at high levels in structures that were developing cartilage elements. The gene is expressed in a very specific temporal and spatial fashion in cartilaginous structures. To examine PG-Lb/epiphycan gene expression during cartilage development in more detail, we performed in situ hybridization on hindlimb sections at specific stages of mouse embryonic development. The expression of PG-Lb/epiphycan was compared to that of collagen type II and collagen type X, which are early and late markers for cartilage development, respectively. The expression of PG-Lb/epiphycan occurs later than collagen type II in cartilage development, but its expression appears in the growth plate before and is excluded from the zone of hypertrophic chondrocytic cells expressing collagen type X. An antibody against PG-Lb/epiphycan localized the protein within the entire growth plate of the E17.5 dpc embryonic hindlimb cartilage including the hypertrophic zone where PG-Lb/epiphycan gene expression is turned off. Our results show that PG-Lb/epiphycan gene expression is an intermediate marker for chondrogenesis, and that the protein can be localized to the extracellular matrix surrounding resting, proliferating, and hypertrophic chondrocytes by immunofluorescence histochemistry.

Ace is a collagen-binding MSCRAMM from Enterococcus faecalis

A putative collagen-binding MSCRAMM, Ace, of Enterococcus faecalis was identified by searching bacterial genome data bases for proteins containing domains homologous to the ligand-binding region of Cna, the collagen-binding MSCRAMM from Staphylococcus aureus. Ace was predicted to have a molecular mass of 71 kDa and contains features characteristic of cell surface proteins on Gram-positive bacteria, including a LPXTG motif for cross-linking to the cell wall. The N-terminal region of Ace contained a region (residues 174-319) in which 56% of the residues are identical or similar when compared with the minimal ligand-binding region of Cna (Cna 151-318); the remainder of the Ace A domain has 46% similarity with the corresponding region of the Cna A domain. Antibodies raised against recombinant Ace A domain were used to verify the cell surface expression of Ace on E. faecalis. These antibodies also effectively inhibited the adhesion of enterococcal cells to a collagen substrate, suggesting that Ace is a functional collagen-binding MSCRAMM. Structural modeling of the conserved region in Ace (residues 174-319) suggested a structure very similar to that reported for residues 151-318 of the Cna collagen-binding domain in which the ligand-binding site was identified as a trench transversing a beta-sheet face (Symersky, J., Patti, J. M., Carson, M., House-Pompeo, K., Teale, M., Moore, D., Jin, L., DeLucas, L. J., Höök, M., and Narayana, S. V. L. (1997) Nat. Struct. Biol. 10, 833-838). Biochemical analyses of recombinant Ace and Cna A domains supported the modeling data in that the secondary structures were similar as determined by CD spectroscopy and both proteins bound at multiple sites in type I collagen with micromolar affinities, but with different apparent kinetics. We conclude that Ace is a collagen-binding MSCRAMM on enterococci and is structurally and functionally related to the staphylococcal Cna protein.

Adherence of Borrelia burgdorferi. Identification of critical lysine residues in DbpA required for decorin binding

Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, expresses on its surface two decorin binding adhesins, DbpA and DbpB. Previous studies have demonstrated that vaccination of mice with DbpA provided protection against challenge with heterologous Borrelia strains despite considerable sequence variability among DbpA in these strains. We have now examined the importance of individual amino acid residues in DbpA for decorin binding. We demonstrated that chemical modification of lysine residues resulted in loss of ligand binding activity. Of the 27 lysine residues in native DbpA from strain 297, 6 are present in most and 5 are conserved in all 30 DbpA sequences examined so far. Analysis of recombinant DbpA in which individual lysine residues have been mutated to alanine suggested that three of the conserved residues distributed throughout the DbpA sequence are required for decorin binding. These mutants lost their ability to bind decorin in Western ligand blot assay and bound reduced amounts of decorin in an ELISA. Furthermore, these mutant DbpA proteins did not inhibit the adherence of B. burgdorferi to a decorin substrata, and they did not recognize decorin in an extracellular matrix established by human fibroblast cultures. We conclude that the three lysine residues Lys-82, Lys-163, and Lys-170 are crucial for the binding of DbpA to decorin.

Trench-shaped binding sites promote multiple classes of interactions between collagen and the adherence receptors, alpha(1)beta(1) integrin and Staphylococcus aureus cna MSCRAMM

Most mammalian cells and some pathogenic bacteria are capable of adhering to collagenous substrates in processes mediated by specific cell surface adherence molecules. Crystal structures of collagen-binding regions of the human integrin alpha(2)beta(1) and a Staphylococcus aureus adhesin reveal a "trench" on the surface of both of these proteins. This trench can accommodate a collagen triple-helical structure and presumably represents the ligand-binding site (Emsley, J., King, S. L., Bergelson, J. M., and Liddington, R. C. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 28512-28517; Symersky, J., Patti, J. M., Carson, M., House-Pompeo, K., Teale, M., Moore, D., Jin, L., Schneider, A., DeLucas, L. J., Höök, M., and Narayana, S. V. L. (1997) Nat. Struct. Biol. 4, 833-838). We report here the crystal structure of the alpha subunit I domain from the alpha(1)beta(1) integrin. This collagen-binding protein also contains a trench on one face in which the collagen triple helix may be docked. Furthermore, we compare the collagen-binding mechanisms of the human alpha(1) integrin I domain and the A domain from the S. aureus collagen adhesin, Cna. Although the S. aureus and human proteins have unrelated amino acid sequences, secondary structure composition, and cation requirements for effective ligand binding, both proteins bind at multiple sites within one collagen molecule, with the sites in collagen varying in their affinity for the adherence molecule. We propose that (i) these evolutionarily dissimilar adherence proteins recognize collagen via similar mechanisms, (ii) the multisite, multiclass protein/ligand interactions observed in these two systems result from a binding-site trench, and (iii) this unusual binding mechanism may be thematic for proteins binding extended, rigid ligands that contain repeating structural motifs.

Role of fibronectin-binding MSCRAMMs in bacterial adherence and entry into mammalian cells

Most bacterial infections are initiated by the adherence of microorganisms to host tissues. This process involves the interaction of specific bacterial surface structures, called adhesins, with host components. In this review, we discuss a group of microbial adhesins known as Microbial Surface Components Recognizing Adhesive Matrix Molecules (MSCRAMMs) which recognize and bind FN. The interaction of bacteria with FN is believed to contribute significantly to the virulence of a number of microorganisms, including staphylococci and streptococci. Several FN-binding MSCRAMMs of staphylococci and streptococci exhibit a similar structural organization and mechanism of ligand recognition. The ligand-binding domain consists of tandem repeats of a approximately 45 amino acid long unit which bind to the 29-kDa N-terminal region of FN. The binding mechanism is unusual in that the repeat units are unstructured and appear to undergo a conformational change upon ligand binding. Apart from supporting bacterial adherence, FN is also involved in bacterial entry into non-phagocytic mammalian cells. A sandwich model has been proposed in which FN forms a molecular bridge between MSCRAMMs on the bacterial surface and integrins on the host cell. However, the precise mechanism of bacterial invasion and the roles of FN and integrins in this process have yet to be fully elucidated.

Decorin is a Zn2+ metalloprotein

Decorin is ubiquitously distributed in the extracellular matrix of mammals and a member of the proteoglycan family characterized by a core protein dominated by leucine-rich repeat motifs. We show here that decorin extracted from bovine tissues under denaturing conditions or produced in recombinant "native" form by cultured mammalian cells has a high affinity for Zn2+ as demonstrated by equilibrium dialyses. The Zn2+-binding sites are localized to the N-terminal domain of the core protein that contains 4 Cys residues in a spacing reminiscent of a zinc finger. A recombinant 41-amino acid long peptide representing the N-terminal domain of decorin has full Zn2+ binding activity and binds two Zn2+ ions with an average KD of 3 x 10(-7) M. Binding of Zn2+ to this peptide results in a change in secondary structure as shown by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Biglycan, a proteoglycan that is structurally closely related to decorin contains a similar high affinity Zn2+-binding segment, whereas the structurally more distantly related proteoglycans, epiphycan and osteoglycin, do not bind Zn2+ with high affinity.

Acupuncture treatment of vasomotor symptoms in men with prostatic carcinoma: a pilot study

PURPOSE

Most men who undergo castration therapy for prostatic carcinoma will have vasomotor symptoms that usually persist for years. Vasomotor symptoms are elicited from the thermoregulatory center, possibly due to a decrease in hypothalamic opioid activity induced by low sex steroid concentrations. Acupuncture treatment in women, which stimulates hypothalamic opioid activity, alleviates vasomotor symptoms. We report on men treated with acupuncture for relief of vasomotor symptoms after castration therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We asked 7 men with vasomotor symptoms due to castration therapy to receive acupuncture treatment 30 minutes twice weekly for 2 weeks and once a week for 10 weeks. Effects on flushes were recorded in logbooks.

RESULTS

Of the 7 men 6 completed at least 10 weeks of acupuncture therapy and all had a substantial decrease in the number of hot flushes (average 70% after 10 weeks). At 3 months after the last treatment the number of flushes was 50% lower than before therapy. Therapy was discontinued after 10 weeks because of a femoral neck fracture in 1 man and after 3 weeks due to severe back pain in 1.

CONCLUSIONS

Acupuncture may be a therapeutic alternative in men with hot flushes after castration therapy and merits further evaluation.

Inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus adherence to collagen under dynamic conditions

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common etiological agent of bacterial arthritis and acute osteomyelitis and has been shown to bind to type II collagen under static and dynamic conditions. We have previously reported the effect of shear on the adhesion of S. aureus Phillips to collagen and found that this process is shear dependent (Z. Li, M. Höök, J. M. Patti, and J. M. Ross, Ann. Biomed. Eng. 24[Suppl. 1]:S-55). In this study, we used recombinant collagen adhesin fragments as well as polyclonal antibodies generated against adhesin fragments in attempts to inhibit bacterial adhesion. A parallel-plate flow chamber was used in a dynamic adhesion assay, and quantification of adhesion was accomplished by phase contrast video microscopy coupled with digital image processing. We report that both recombinant fragments studied, M19 and M55, and both polyclonal antibodies studied, alpha-M17 and alpha-M55, inhibit adhesion to varying degrees and that these processes are shear dependent. The M55 peptide and alpha-M55 cause much higher levels of inhibition than M19 and alpha-M17, respectively, at all wall shear rates studied. Our results demonstrate the importance of using a dynamic system in the assessment of inhibitory strategies and suggest the possible use of M55 and alpha-M55 in clinical applications to prevent infections caused by S. aureus adhesion to collagen.

Crystallization of ClfA and ClfB fragments: the fibrinogen-binding surface proteins of Staphylococcus aureus

Recombinant constructs encoding the fibrinogen-binding domains of ClfA and ClfB from Staphylococcus aureus have been crystallized. ClfA was crystallized in the orthorhombic space group P212121 with unit-cell parameters a = 39.58, b = 81.39 and c = 112.65 A. A complete data set was recorded to 2.1 A resolution and had a Vm of 2. 3 A3 Da-1 with 46.5% solvent, suggesting one molecule per asymmetric unit. Co-crystals of ClfA with the 17 amino-acid C-terminal peptide of fibrinogen gamma-chain diffracted to 2.1 A resolution and had unit-cell parameters a = 39.11, b = 81.39 and c = 109.51 A in the space group P212121. ClfB was crystallized in the tetragonal space group P41212 or P43212 with unit-cell parameters a = 96.31, b = 96. 31 and c = 84.13 A and diffracted to 2.45 A resolution. The estimated Vm of 2.6 A3 Da-1 with 53% solvent indicated one molecule in the asymmetric unit.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of B-domain fragments of a Staphylococcus aureus collagen-binding protein

Recombinant proteins of monomeric and dimeric B-domain repeats of a Staphylococcus aureus FDA 574 collagen-binding adhesin have been crystallized. The single repeat unit (B1) was crystallized in a body-centered orthorhombic lattice with a = 96.9, b = 101.3, c = 120. 8 A in either the I222 or I212121 space group. These crystals diffracted to 2.5 A resolution and the calculated Vm values of 3.2 and 2.2 A3 Da-1 suggest the possibility of a dimer or a trimer in the asymmetric unit. The two-repeat fragment (B1B2) crystallized in the orthorhombic space group P212121 with cell dimensions a = 42.4, b = 79.4, c = 130.4 A and diffracted to 2.3 A resolution. For this species, the calculated Vm value of 2.2 A3 Da-1 indicates the presence of a monomer in the asymmetric unit.

Surface protein adhesins of Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus can colonize the host to initiate infection by adhering to components of the extracellular matrix. Adherence is mediated by surface protein adhesins (MSCRAMMs). Ligand binding by these fibronectin-, fibrinogen- and collagen-binding proteins occurs by distinct mechanisms that are being investigated at the molecular level.

Multiple specificities of the staphylococcal and streptococcal fibronectin-binding microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules

Many pathogenic gram-positive bacteria express fibronectin (Fn)-binding microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs), most of which have a similar structural organization with a primary ligand-binding domain consisting of 3-6 repeats of 40-50 amino-acid-residue motifs. The MSCRAMMs appear to preferentially bind to the N-terminal region of Fn, which is composed of five type-I modules. Here we report that the Fn-binding MSCRAMM FnbpA of Staphylococcus aureus contains a second ligand-binding domain located outside the repeat units. In addition, several sites in the Fn N-terminus presented as recombinant type-I module pairs bind to the repeat domain of the MSCRAMM. All of the MSCRAMMs analyzed, which include FnbpA of Staphylococcus aureus, Sfb of Streptococcus pyogenes, and FnbA and FnbB of Streptococcus dysgalactiae, were shown to bind to multiple sites in the N-terminal domain of Fn. By dissecting the repeat domain of FnbpA using synthetic peptides and recombinant fragments, we show that discrete, different motifs are responsible for the binding to individual sites in Fn, rather than a common motif being able to bind to several pairs of type-I Fn modules. The C-terminal half of many of the MSCRAMM repeat units contain a common motif, which is shown here to bind to the type-I module pair 4 and 5. In addition, some of the repeat units of FnbpA contain N-terminal motifs which bound to the type-I module pairs 1-2 and 2-3, respectively. These latter binding motifs appear to be partly overlapping and dependent on flanking sequences. Fluorescence polarization experiments using fluorescein-labeled MSCRAMM peptides and recombinant type-I Fn module pairs revealed dissociation constants of 1-13 microM. It was also shown that the fluorescein-labeled peptides differed in their primary binding sites on Fn.

Domain structure of the Staphylococcus aureus collagen adhesin

Sequence analysis of surface proteins from Gram-positive bacteria indicates a composite organization consisting of unique and repeated segments. Thus, these proteins may contain discrete domains that could fold independently. In this paper, we have used a panel of biophysical methods, including gel permeation chromatography, analytical ultracentrifugation, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy, to analyze the structural organization of the Staphylococcus aureus collagen adhesin, CNA. Our results indicate that the structure, function, and folding of the ligand-binding domain (A) are not affected by the presence or absence of the other major domain (B). In addition, little or no interaction is observed between the nearly identical repeat units within the B domain. We propose that CNA is indeed a mosaic protein in which the different domains previously indicated by sequence analysis operate independently.

Antibody response to fibronectin-binding adhesin FnbpA in patients with Staphylococcus aureus infections

We have analyzed antibody reactivity to a fibronectin-binding microbial surface component that recognizes adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMM) in blood plasma collected from patients with staphylococcal infections. All patients had elevated levels of anti-MSCRAMM antibodies compared to those of young children who, presumably, had not been exposed to staphylococcal infections. The anti-MSCRAMM antibodies preferentially reacted with the ligand-binding repeat domain of the adhesin. However, these antibodies did not inhibit fibronectin binding. Essentially, all patients had antibodies which specifically recognized the fibronectin-MSCRAMM complex but not the isolated components. Epitopes recognized by these anti-ligand-induced binding sites antibodies were found in each repeat unit of the MSCRAMM. These results demonstrate that staphylococci have bound fibronectin some time during infection and that each repeat unit in the MSCRAMM can engage in ligand binding. Furthermore, our previously proposed model, suggesting that an unordered structure in the MSCRAMM undergoes a conformational change upon ligand binding (K. House-Pompeo, Y. Xu, D. Joh, P. Speziale, and M. Höök, J. Biol. Chem. 271:1379-1384, 1996), is presumably operational in patients during infections.

Decorin-binding adhesins from Borrelia burgdorferi

Lyme disease is a tick-transmitted infection caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Ticks deposit B. burgdorferi into the dermis of the host, where they eventually become associated with collagen fibres. We demonstrated previously that B. burgdorferi is unable to bind collagen, but can bind the collagen-associated proteoglycan decorin and expresses decorin-binding proteins (Dbps). We have now cloned and sequenced two genes encoding the proteins, DbpA and DbpB, which have a similar structure, as revealed by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy of recombinant proteins. Competition experiments revealed a difference in binding specificity between DbpA and DbpB. Western blot analysis of proteinase K-treated intact B. burgdorferi and transmission electron microscopy studies using antibodies raised against recombinant Dbps demonstrated that these proteins are surface exposed. DbpA effectively inhibits the attachment of B. burgdorferi to a decorin substrate, whereas DbpB had a marginal effect, suggesting a difference in substrate specificity between the two Dbps. Polystyrene beads coated with DbpA adhered to a decorin-containing extracellular matrix produced by cultured skin fibroblasts, whereas beads coated with OspC did not. Taken together, these data suggest that Dbps are adhesins of the MSCRAMM (microbial surface component-recognizing adhesive matrix molecule) family, which mediate B. burgdorferi attachment to the extracellular matrix of the host.

Clumping factor B (ClfB), a new surface-located fibrinogen-binding adhesin of Staphylococcus aureus

The surface-located fibrinogen-binding protein (clumping factor; ClfA) of Staphylococcus aureus has an unusual dipeptide repeat linking the ligand binding domain to the wall-anchored region. Southern blotting experiments revealed several other loci in the S. aureus Newman genome that hybridized to a probe comprising DNA encoding the dipeptide repeat. One of these loci is analysed here. It also encodes a fibrinogen-binding protein, which we have called ClfB. The overall organization of ClfB is very similar to that of ClfA, and the proteins have considerable sequence identity in the signal sequence and wall attachment domains. However, the A regions are only 26% identical. Recombinant biotinylated ClfB protein bound to fibrinogen in Western ligand blots. ClfB reacted with the alpha- and beta-chains of fibrinogen in the ligand blots in contrast to ClfA, which binds exclusively to the gamma-chain. Analysis of proteins released from the cell wall of S. aureus Newman by Western immunoblotting using antibody raised against the recombinant A region of ClfB identified a 124 kDa protein as the clfB gene product. This protein was detectable only on cells that were grown to the early exponential phase. It was absent from cells from late exponential phase or stationary phase cultures. Using a clfB mutant isolated by allelic replacement alone and in combination with a clfA mutation, the ClfB protein was shown to promote (i) clumping of exponential-phase cells in a solution of fibrinogen, (ii) adherence of exponential-phase bacteria to immobilized fibrinogen in vitro, and (iii) bacterial adherence to ex vivo human haemodialysis tubing, suggesting that it could contribute to the pathogenicity of biomaterial-related infections. However, in wild-type exponential-phase S. aureus Newman cultures, ClfB activity was masked by the ClfA protein, and it did not contribute at all to interactions of cells from stationary-phase cultures with fibrinogen. ClfB-dependent bacterial adherence to immobilized fibrinogen was inhibited by millimolar concentrations of Ca2+ and Mn2+, which indicates that, like ClfA, ligand binding by ClfB is regulated by a low-affinity inhibitory cation binding site.

Conditional adherence of Enterococcus faecalis to extracellular matrix proteins

The adherence of 44 clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecalis, a common cause of endocarditis, and 13 Enterococcus faecium to substrates of six extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins was examined using 35S-labeled bacteria. One E. faecalis strain, isolated from a patient with endocarditis, adhered to collagen types I and IV and another E. faecalis strain adhered to laminin and to collagen types I and IV. However, most isolates showed little adherence ( < 5% of added cells adhered) when grown at 37 degrees C regardless of their source (endocarditis, urine or fecal sample). When grown at 46 degrees C (but not when grown in CO2 or nutrient limited media), most isolates of E. faecalis increased their adherence to immobilized laminin, collagen types I and IV but not to fibronectin, fibrinogen or bovine serum albumin, whereas none of the E. faecium increased adherence when grown at 46 degrees C or 50 degrees C. The adherence of E. faecalis was eliminated by digestion with trypsin, suggesting that a protein is somehow important, directly or indirectly, for adherence to occur. Pre-incubation of bacteria with soluble collagen types I and IV inhibited the adherence to these ECM proteins. These results demonstrate that in E. faecalis, adherence to ECM proteins is produced during routine in vitro growth conditions by occasional isolates and can be produced during certain stressful growth conditions by others. Whether this adherence relates to the propensity of E. faecalis to cause endocarditis remains to be determined.

Vaccination with a recombinant fragment of collagen adhesin provides protection against Staphylococcus aureus-mediated septic death

Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Morbidity and mortality due to infections such as sepsis, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and invasive endocarditis remain high despite the use of antibiotics. The emergence of antibiotic resistant super bugs mandates that alternative strategies for the prevention and treatment of S. aureus infections are developed. We investigated the ability of vaccination with a recombinant fragment of the S. aureus collagen adhesin to protect mice against sepsis-induced death. Actively immunized NMRI mice were intravenously inoculated with the S. aureus clinical isolate strain Phillips. 14 d after inoculation, mortality in the collagen adhesin-vaccinated group was only 13%, compared with 87% in the control antigen immunized group (P < 0.001). To determine if the protective effect was antibody mediated, we passively immunized naive mice with collagen adhesin-specific antibodies. Similar to the active immunization strategy, passive transfer of collagen adhesin-specific antibodies protected mice against sepsis-induced death. In vitro experiments indicated that S. aureus opsonized with sera from collagen adhesin immunized mice promoted phagocytic uptake and enhanced intracellular killing compared with bacteria opsonized with sera from control animals. These results indicate that the collagen adhesin is a viable target in the development of immunotherapeutics against S. aureus.

Active and passive immunity against Borrelia burgdorferi decorin binding protein A (DbpA) protects against infection

Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochete that causes Lyme disease, binds decorin, a collagen-associated extracellular matrix proteoglycan found in the skin (the site of entry for the spirochete) and in many other tissues. Two borrelial adhesins that recognize this proteoglycan, decorin binding proteins A and B (DbpA and DbpB, respectively), have recently been identified. Infection of mice by low-dose B. burgdorferi challenge elicited antibodies against DbpA and DbpB that were sustained at high levels, suggesting that these antigens are expressed in vivo. Scanning immunoelectron microscopy showed that DbpA was surface accessible on intact borreliae. Passive administration of DbpA antiserum protected mice from infection following challenge with heterologous B. burgdorferi sensu stricto isolates, even when serum administration was delayed for up to 4 days after challenge. DbpA is the first antigen target identified that is capable of mediating immune resolution of early, localized B. burgdorferi infections. DbpA immunization also protected mice from B. burgdorferi challenge; DbpB immunization was much less effective. DbpA antiserum inhibited in vitro growth of many B. burgdorferi sensu lato isolates of diverse geographic, phylogenetic, and clinical origins. In combination, these findings support a role for DbpA in the immunoprophylaxis of Lyme disease and suggest that DbpA vaccines have the potential to eliminate early-stage B. burgdorferi infections.

The fibrinogen-binding MSCRAMM (clumping factor) of Staphylococcus aureus has a Ca2+-dependent inhibitory site

The clumping factor (ClfA) is a cell surface-associated protein of Staphylococcus aureus that promotes binding of fibrinogen or fibrin to the bacterial cell. Previous studies have shown that ClfA and the platelet integrin alphaIIbbeta3 recognize the same domain at the extreme C terminus of the fibrinogen gamma-chain. alphaIIbbeta3 interaction with this domain is known to occur in close proximity to a Ca2+-binding EF-hand structure in the alpha-subunit. Analysis of the primary structure of ClfA indicated the presence of a potential Ca2+-binding EF-hand-like motif at residues 310-321 within the fibrinogen-binding domain. Deletion mutagenesis and site-directed mutagenesis of this EF-hand in recombinant truncated ClfA proteins (Clf40, residues 40-559; and Clf41, residues 221-559) resulted in a significant reduction of affinity for native fibrinogen and a fibrinogen gamma-chain peptide. Furthermore, Ca2+ (or Mn2+) could inhibit the binding of the fibrinogen gamma-chain peptide to Clf40-(40-559) and the adhesion of S. aureus cells to immobilized fibrinogen with an IC50 of 2-3 mM. In contrast, Mg2+ (or Na+) at similar concentrations had no effect on the ClfA-fibrinogen interaction. Far-UV CD analysis of Clf40-(40-559) and Clf41-(221-559) in the presence of metal ions indicated Ca2+- and Mn2+-induced differences in secondary structure. These data suggest that Ca2+ binds to an inhibitory site(s) within ClfA and induces a conformational change that is incompatible with binding to the C terminus of the gamma-chain of fibrinogen. Mutagenesis studies indicate that the Ca2+-dependent inhibitory site is located within the EF-hand motif at residues 310-321.

Structure of the collagen-binding domain from a Staphylococcus aureus adhesin

The crystal structure of the recombinant 19,000 M(r) binding domain from the Staphylococcus aureus collagen adhesin has been determined at 2 A resolution. The domain fold is a jelly-roll, composed of two antiparallel beta-sheets and two short alpha-helices. Triple-helical collagen model probes were used in a systematic docking search to identify the collagen-binding site. A groove on beta-sheet I exhibited the best surface complementarity to the collagen probes. This site partially overlaps with the peptide sequence previously shown to be critical for collagen binding. Recombinant proteins containing single amino acid mutations designed to disrupt the surface of the putative binding site exhibited significantly lower affinities for collagen. Here we present a structural perspective for the mode of collagen binding by a bacterial surface protein.

Characterization of epiphycan, a small proteoglycan with a leucine-rich repeat core protein

The epiphysis of developing bones is a cartilaginous structure that is eventually replaced by bone during skeletal maturation. We have separated a dermatan sulfate proteoglycan, epiphycan, from decorin and biglycan by using dissociative extraction of bovine fetal epiphyseal cartilage, followed by sequential ion-exchange, gel permeation, hydrophobic, and Zn2+ chelate chromatographic steps. Epiphycan is a member of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan family, contains seven leucine-rich repeats (LRRs), is related to osteoglycin (osteoinductive factor) (Bentz, H., Nathan, R. M., Rosen, D. M., Armstrong, R. M., Thompson, A. Y., Segarini, P. R., Mathews, M. C., Dasch, J., Piez, K. A., and Seyedin, S. M. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 20805-20810), and appears to be the bovine equivalent of the chick proteoglycan PG-Lb (Shinomura, T., and Kimata, K. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 1265-1270). The intact proteoglycan had a median size of approximately 133 kDa. The core protein was 46 kDa by electrophoretic analysis, had a calculated size of 34,271 Da, and had two approximately equimolar N termini (APTLES ... and ETYDAT ... ) separated by 11 amino acids. There were at least three O-linked oligosaccharides in the N-terminal region of the protein, based on blank cycles in Edman degradation and corresponding serine or threonine residues in the translated cDNA sequence. The glycosaminoglycans ranged in size from 23 to 34 kDa were more heterogeneous than those in other dermatan sulfate small leucine-rich proteoglycans and were found in the acidic N-terminal region of the protein core, N-terminal to the LRRs. A four-cysteine cluster was present at the N terminus of the LRRs, and a disulfide-bonded cysteine pair was present at the C terminus of the protein core. The seventh LRR and an N-linked oligosaccharide were between the two C-terminal cysteines. An additional potential N-glycosylation site near the C terminus did not appear to be substituted at a significant level.

Characterization of the interaction between the Staphylococcus aureus clumping factor (ClfA) and fibrinogen

The ability of Staphylococcus aureus to adhere to adsorbed fibrinogen and fibrin is believed to be an important step in the initiation of biomaterial and wound-associated infections. In this study, we show that the binding site in fibrinogen for the recently identified S. aureus fibrinogen-binding protein clumping factor (ClfA) is within the C-terminus of the fibrinogen gamma chain. S. aureus Newman cells expressing ClfA adhered to microtitre wells coated with recombinant fibrinogen purified from BHK cells, but did not adhere to wells coated with a purified recombinant fibrinogen variant where the 4 C-terminal residues of the gamma chain were replaced by 20 unrelated residues. In addition, a synthetic peptide corresponding to the 17 C-terminal amino acids of the fibrinogen gamma chain effectively inhibited adherence of ClfA-expressing cells to fibrinogen. In western ligand blots, a recombinant truncated ClfA protein called Clf33 (residues 221-550) recognized intact recombinant fibrinogen gamma chains, but failed to recognize recombinant fibrinogen gamma chains where the 4 C-terminal amino acids were altered by deletion or substitution. Previous studies have shown that the C-terminal domain of fibrinogen gamma chains contains a binding site for the integrin alphaIIb beta3 (glycoprotein gpIIb/IIIa) receptor on platelets [Kloczewiak, M., Timmons, S., Bednarek, M. A., Sakon, M. & Hawiger, J. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 2915-1919; Farrell, D. H., Thiagarajan, P., Chung, D. W. & Davie, E. W. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89, 10729-10732; Hettasch, J. M., Bolyard, M. G. & Lord, S. T. (1992) Thromb. Haemostasis 68, 701-706]. We now show that Clf33 inhibits ADP-induced, fibrinogen-dependent platelet aggregation in a concentration-dependent manner and inhibits adhesion of platelets to immobilized fibrinogen under fluid shear stress, indicating that the binding sites for the platelet integrin and the staphylococcal adhesin overlap. The interaction between Clf33 and fibrinogen was further characterized using the BIAcore biosensor. When soluble Clf33 was allowed to bind to immobilized fibrinogen, a Kd of 0.51 +/- 0.19 microM was experimentally determined using equilibrium binding data. It was also shown that the synthetic C-terminal gamma-chain peptide effectively inhibited this interaction.

Is the sensitivity of cells for FGF-1 and FGF-2 regulated by cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans?

We have examined the importance of cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG) in fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling. 3T3 cells grown under conventional conditions were much more sensitive to FGF-2 compared to FGF-1. However, cells were equally sensitive to FGF-1 and FGF-2 using conditions which reduced the effect of endogenous HSPG. Addition of heparin, or treatment with chlorate, an inhibitor of proteoglycan sulfation, resulted in enhanced or reduced growth factor response, respectively, and eliminated the differences between FGF-1 and FGF-2. HSPGs isolated from trypsin digests of 3T3 cells had a much higher affinity for FGF-2 compared to that for FGF-1 when analyzed by affinity chromatography. Glycosaminoglycan chains or core protein fragments derived from the HSPG failed to show the same high apparent affinity for FGF-2, suggesting that an intact proteoglycan structure was important for the high FGF-2 affinity. Addition of HSPG ectodomains, isolated from cultured 3T3 cells or produced as recombinant molecules, to chlorate-treated cultures of 3T3 cells inhibited the mitogenic activity of FGF-2 and eliminated the effect of heparin as a potentiator of either growth factor. These results support the idea that the cell-associated HSPG is an integral component of the FGF signaling system and in 3T3 cells contributes to the increased sensitivity of these cells to FGF-2 compared to FGF-1. Since isolated ectodomains of HSPG inhibited rather than stimulated the mitogenic response of the FGFs, the proper anchoring of the HSPG in the cell membrane appears to be important for a stimulatory effect.

Heparin-dependent fibroblast growth factor activities: effects of defined heparin oligosaccharides

Heparin and related molecules have been identified as important participants in fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling although the mechanisms of action remain unclear. We have used heparin oligosaccharides to examine steps in the signaling process which could be affected by the polysaccharide. Immobilized FGF-1 and FGF-2 bound all sizes of oligosaccharides tested, ranging from tetrasaccharide to decasaccharide, at physiological salt concentration. Each group of oligosaccharide was eluted from the FGF affinity columns in several peaks, and larger oligosaccharides showed higher apparent affinity for the immobilized growth factors compared to the shorter ones. Heparin hexasaccharides were the smallest fragments providing complete protection of FGF-1 and FGF-2 against trypsin digestion. Tetrasaccharides, however, were able to provide partial protection. The requirement of heparin for ligand-receptor interaction was evaluated in receptor binding assays using Sf9 insect cells engineered to overexpress different recombinant FGF receptor (FGFR) species including FGFR1 beta, FGFR1 alpha or FGFR4 at the cell surface. In these assays hexasaccharides were the smallest fragments capable of stimulating FGF-receptor interaction. Over the range of concentrations examined, neither hexasaccharides nor octasaccharides were able to stimulate receptor binding to the level attained by intact heparin. In fact, these oligosaccharides interfered with the ability of intact heparin in promoting FGF-receptor binding. The presence of both stimulatory and inhibitory activities in hexasaccharide and octasaccharide populations could be attributed to structural heterogeneity within the oligosaccharide preparations. However, similar observations were obtained with "highly-sulfated" structurally homogeneous preparations of hexasaccharide and octasaccharide, although these molecules generally had greater stimulatory and less inhibitory activity than their structurally heterogeneous counterparts. Hexasaccharides were found to be the smallest fragments able to potentiate the FGF-1-induced 3T3 cell proliferation while their effect on FGF-2 signaling was less clear. These observations suggest that heparin can modulate FGF-signaling at several stages with different end results.

A heparin-binding synthetic peptide of heparin/heparan sulfate-interacting protein modulates blood coagulation activities

We have previously identified and characterized a heparin-binding cell surface protein (heparin/heparan sulfate-interacting protein, or HIP) present on epithelial and endothelial cells. A synthetic peptide mimicking a heparin-binding domain of HIP is now shown to bind a small subset of heparin molecules with high affinity and, therefore, presumably recognizes a specific structural motif in the heparin molecule. Further analyses revealed that the heparin molecules exhibiting a high affinity for the HIP peptide also show an extremely high affinity for antithrombin III (AT-III), a cofactor required for heparin's anticoagulant activity. The HIP peptide was shown to compete with AT-III for binding to heparin and to neutralize the anticoagulant activity of heparin in blood plasma assays. Furthermore, the heparin subfraction that binds to the HIP peptide with high affinity exhibits an extremely high anticoagulant activity. We conclude that although the HIP peptide shows no sequence similarity with AT-III, the two proteins recognize the same or similar structural motifs in heparin.