Projects per year
Abstract
In an attempt to evade annihilation by the vertebrate complement system, many microbes capture factor H (FH), the key soluble complement-regulating protein in human plasma. However, FH is normally an active complement suppressor exclusively on self-surfaces and this selective action of FH is pivotal to self versus non-self discrimination by the complement system. We investigated whether the bacterially captured FH becomes functionally enhanced and, if so, how this is achieved at a structural level. We found, using site-directed and truncation mutagenesis, surface plasmon resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and cross-linking and mass spectrometry, that the N-terminal domain of Streptococcus pneumoniae protein PspC (PspCN) not only binds FH extraordinarily tightly but also holds it in a previously uncharacterized conformation. Functional enhancement arises from exposure of a C-terminal cryptic second binding site in FH for C3b, the activation-specific fragment of the pivotal complement component, C3. This conformational change of FH doubles its affinity for C3b and increases 5-fold its ability to accelerate decay of the binary enzyme (C3bBb) responsible for converting C3 to C3b in an amplification loop. Despite not sharing critical FH-binding residues, PspCNs from D39 and Tigr4 S. pneumoniae exhibit similar FH-anchoring and enhancing properties. We propose that these bacterial proteins mimic molecular markers of self-surfaces, providing a compelling hypothesis for how FH prevents complement-mediated injury to host tissue while lacking efficacy on virtually all other surfaces. In hemolysis assays with 2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide-treated erythrocytes that recapitulate paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, PspCN enhanced protection of cells by FH, suggesting a new paradigm for therapeutic complement suppression.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 4986-98 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | The Journal of Immunology |
Volume | 195 |
Issue number | 10 |
Early online date | 12 Oct 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Nov 2015 |
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Dive into the research topics of 'Complement Evasion Mediated by Enhancement of Captured Factor H: Implications for Protection of Self-Surfaces from Complement'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 4 Finished
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Core funding renewal for the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology
Tollervey, D. (Principal Investigator) & Earnshaw, B. (Co-investigator)
1/10/11 → 30/04/17
Project: Research
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The "safety catch" on the trigger for formation of the membrane-attack complex - a structural analysis
Barlow, P. (Principal Investigator)
15/08/11 → 14/07/14
Project: Research
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Proteomics at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology
Rappsilber, J. (Principal Investigator), Tollervey, D. (Co-investigator) & Tyers, M. (Co-investigator)
1/05/10 → 30/04/15
Project: Research
Profiles
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Paul Barlow
- School of Biological Sciences - Professor of Structural Biology
- EaStCHEM
Person: Academic: Research Active