Conformational Changes in the Fibronectin Binding MSCRAMMs Are Induced by Ligand Binding

Allosteric Regulation of Fibronectin/α5β1 Interaction by Fibronectin-Binding MSCRAMMs

Adherence of microbes to host tissues is a hallmark of infectious disease and is often mediated by a class of adhesins termed MSCRAMMs (Microbial Surface Components Recognizing Adhesive Matrix Molecules). Numerous pathogens express MSCRAMMs that specifically bind the heterodimeric human glycoprotein fibronectin (Fn). In addition to roles in adhesion, Fn-binding MSCRAMMs exploit physiological Fn...

Bak Conformational Changes Induced by Ligand Binding: Insight into BH3 Domain Binding and Bak Homo-Oligomerization

Recently we reported that the BH3-only proteins Bim and Noxa bind tightly but transiently to the BH3-binding groove of Bak to initiate Bak homo-oligomerization. However, it is unclear how such tight binding can induce Bak homo-oligomerization. Here we report the ligand-induced Bak conformational changes observed in 3D models of Noxa·Bak and Bim·Bak refined by molecular dynamics simulations. In ...

A Novel Fibronectin Binding Motif in MSCRAMMs Targets F3 Modules

BACKGROUND BBK32 is a surface expressed lipoprotein and fibronectin (Fn)-binding microbial surface component recognizing adhesive matrix molecule (MSCRAMM) of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Previous studies from our group showed that BBK32 is a virulence factor in experimental Lyme disease and located the Fn-binding region to residues 21-205 of the lipoprotein. MET...

Ligand-induced conformational changes in the acetylcholine-binding protein analyzed by hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry.

Recent x-ray crystallographic studies of the acetylcholine-binding protein (AChBP) suggest that loop C, found at the circumference of the pentameric molecule, shows distinctive conformational changes upon antagonist and agonist occupation. We have employed hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry to examine the influence of bound ligands on solvent exposure of AChBP. Quantitative measureme...

Lectin Bound to Ligand Surfaces Conformational Changes in Mannan-Binding