An intermolecular binding mechanism involving multiple LysM domains mediates carbohydrate recognition by an endopeptidase

Jaslyn E M M Wong, Søren Roi Midtgaard, Kira Gysel, Mikkel B Thygesen, Kasper K Sørensen, Knud J Jensen, Jens Stougaard, Søren Thirup, Mickaël Blaise

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33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

LysM domains, which are frequently present as repetitive entities in both bacterial and plant proteins, are known to interact with carbohydrates containing N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) moieties, such as chitin and peptidoglycan. In bacteria, the functional significance of the involvement of multiple LysM domains in substrate binding has so far lacked support from high-resolution structures of ligand-bound complexes. Here, a structural study of the Thermus thermophilus NlpC/P60 endopeptidase containing two LysM domains is presented. The crystal structure and small-angle X-ray scattering solution studies of this endopeptidase revealed the presence of a homodimer. The structure of the two LysM domains co-crystallized with N-acetyl-chitohexaose revealed a new intermolecular binding mode that may explain the differential interaction between LysM domains and short or long chitin oligomers. By combining the structural information with the three-dimensional model of peptidoglycan, a model suggesting how protein dimerization enhances the recognition of peptidoglycan is proposed.

Original languageEnglish
JournalActa crystallographica Section D: Structural biology
Volume71
IssuePt 3
Pages (from-to)592-605
Number of pages14
ISSN2059-7983
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2015

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