Download MendeleyIntercepting second-messenger signaling by rationally designed peptides sequestering c-di-GMP.
Hee, C.S., Habazettl, J., Schmutz, C., Schirmer, T., Jenal, U., Grzesiek, S.(2020) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 117: 17211-17220
- PubMed: 32611811
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2001232117
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
6SFT - PubMed Abstract:
The bacterial second messenger cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) regulates a wide range of cellular functions from biofilm formation to growth and survival. Targeting a second-messenger network is challenging because the system involves a multitude of components with often overlapping functions. Here, we present a strategy to intercept c-di-GMP signaling pathways by directly targeting the second messenger. For this, we developed a c-di-GMP-sequestering peptide (CSP) that was derived from a CheY-like c-di-GMP effector protein. CSP binds c-di-GMP with submicromolar affinity. The elucidation of the CSP⋅c-di-GMP complex structure by NMR identified a linear c-di-GMP-binding motif, in which a self-intercalated c-di-GMP dimer is tightly bound by a network of H bonds and π-stacking interactions involving arginine and aromatic residues. Structure-based mutagenesis yielded a variant with considerably higher, low-nanomolar affinity, which subsequently was shortened to 19 residues with almost uncompromised affinity. We demonstrate that endogenously expressed CSP intercepts c-di-GMP signaling and effectively inhibits biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa , the most widely used model for serious biofilm-associated medical implications.
Organizational Affiliation:
Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
