Nucleotide sequence of the gene for a fibronectin-binding protein from Staphylococcus aureus: Use of this peptide sequence in the synthesis of biologically active peptides

C. Signas, G. Raucci, K. Jonsson, P. E. Lindgren, G. M. Anantharamaiah, M. Hook, M. Lindberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

327 Scopus citations

Abstract

Binding of cells of Staphylococcus aureus to fibronectin, which may represent a mechanism of host tissue adherence, involves a fibronectin-receptor protein present on the bacterial surface. Cloning of a gene coding for a staphylococcal fibronectin-binding protein and construction of a fusion protein with fibronectin-binding properties was previously reported from our laboratory. We have now sequenced the gene and deduced a primary sequence of the fibronectin-binding protein. The protein resembles other cell-wall associated proteins on Gram-positive bacteria in that it (i) appears to be anchored in the cell membrane via its C-terminal end, (ii) contains a proline-rich repeating unit outside the membrane anchor, and (iii) contains a long (36-amino acid) signal sequence at the N terminus. The fibronectin-binding activity has been localized to a domain composed of a 38-amino acid unit repeated completely three times and partially a fourth time; the identity between the three 38-amino acid sequences varies from 42 to 87%. Three synthetic peptides mimicking the structure of each 38-amino acid unit were constructed. All three peptides interacted with fibronectin, as indicated by their ability to inhibit binding of fibronectin to staphylococcal cells, whereas an unrelated 37-amino acid peptide showed no inhibitory activity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)699-703
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume86
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1989

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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