The structure of the C5a receptor-blocking domain of chemotaxis inhibitory protein of Staphylococcus aureus is related to a group of immune evasive molecules.
The chemotaxis inhibitory protein of Staphylococcus aureus (CHIPS) is a 121 residue excreted virulence factor. It acts by binding the C5a- (C5aR) and formylated peptide receptor (FPR) and thereby blocks specific phagocyte responses. Here, we report the solution structure of a CHIPS fragment consisting of residues 31-121 (CHIPS31-121). CHIPS31-121 has the same activity in blocking the C5aR compared to full-length CHIPS, but completely lacks FPR antagonism. CHIPS31-121 has a compact fold comprising an alpha-helix (residues 38-51) packed onto a four-stranded anti-parallel beta-sheet. Strands beta2 and beta3 are joined by a long loop with a relatively well-defined conformation. Comparison of CHIPS31-121 with known structures reveals striking homology with the C-terminal domain of staphylococcal superantigen-like proteins (SSLs) 5 and 7, and the staphyloccocal and streptococcal superantigens TSST-1 and SPE-C. Also, the recently reported structures of several domains of the staphylococcal extracellullar adherence protein (EAP) show a high degree of structural similarity with CHIPS. Most of the conserved residues in CHIPS and its structural homologues are present in the alpha-helix. A conserved arginine residue (R46 in CHIPS) appears to be involved in preservation of the structure. Site-directed mutagenesis of all positively charged residues in CHIPS31-121 reveals a major involvement of arginine 44 and lysine 95 in C5aR antagonism. The structure of CHIPS31-121 will be vital in the further unraveling of its precise mechanism of action. Its structural homology to S.aureus SSLs, superantigens, and EAP might help the design of future experiments towards an understanding of the relationship between structure and function of these proteins.
Haas
Pieter-Jan
PJ
Eijkman-Winkler Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands.
de Haas
Carla J C
CJ
Poppelier
Miriam J J C
MJ
van Kessel
Kok P M
KP
van Strijp
Jos A G
JA
Dijkstra
Klaas
K
Scheek
Ruud M
RM
Fan
Hao
H
Kruijtzer
John A W
JA
Liskamp
Rob M J
RM
Kemmink
Johan
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D044087:Receptor, Anaphylatoxin C5a / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D044042:Receptors, Formyl Peptide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000737:chemistry*; D018089:Superantigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D044087:Receptor, Anaphylatoxin C5a; D044042:Receptors, Formyl Peptide; D018089:Superantigens; C493134:chemotaxis inhibitory protein, Staphylococcus aureus