title: The molecular basis of fibronectin-mediated bacterial adherence to host cells.
abstract: Many pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria produce cell wall-anchored proteins that bind to components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the host. These bacterial MSCRAMMs (microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules) are thought to play a critical role in infection. One group of MSCRAMMs, produced by staphylococci and streptococci, targets fibronectin (Fn, a glycoprotein found in the ECM and body fluids of vertebrates) using repeats in the C-terminal region of the bacterial protein. These bacterial Fn-binding proteins (FnBPs) mediate adhesion to host tissue and bacterial uptake into non-phagocytic host cells. Recent studies on interactions between the host and bacterial proteins at the residue-specific level and on the mechanism of host cell invasion are providing a much clearer picture of these processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schwarz-Linek
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Höök
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Potts
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001665:Binding Sites; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; C078635:fibronectin-binding proteins, bacterial