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Published on: October 14, 2011
Bacteriophage endolysin Lyt μ1/6: characterization of the C-terminal binding domain
Lenka Tišáková1, Barbora Vidová, Jarmila Farkašovská
1Department of Genomics and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Prokaryotic Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology Slovak Academy of Sciences (IMB SAS), Bratislava, Slovakia.
Abstract:
The gene product of orf50 from actinophage μ1/6 of Streptomyces aureofaciens is a putative endolysin, Lyt μ1/6. It has a two-domain modular structure, consisting of an N-terminal catalytic and a C-terminal cell wall binding domain (CBD). Comparative analysis of Streptomyces phage endolysins revealed that they all have a modular structure and contain functional C-terminal domains with conserved amino acids, probably associated with their binding function. A blast analysis of Lyt μ1/6 in conjunction with secondary and tertiary structure prediction disclosed the presence of a PG_binding_1 domain within the CBD. The sequence of the C-terminal domain of lyt μ1/6 and truncated forms of it were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The ability of these CBD variants fused to GFP to bind to the surface of S. aureofaciens NMU was shown by specific binding assays.
Insights
The endolysin Lyt μ1/6 from Streptomyces phage μ1/6 has a cell wall binding domain (CBD) crucial for its function. This study demonstrates the binding capability of the Lyt μ1/6 CBD to Streptomyces aureofaciens surfaces.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Actinophage μ1/6 encodes a putative endolysin, Lyt μ1/6, with a modular structure.
- Endolysins are phage-encoded enzymes that degrade bacterial cell walls, facilitating progeny release.
- Streptomyces phages commonly possess modular endolysins with conserved C-terminal cell wall binding domains (CBDs).
Discussion:
- Lyt μ1/6 exhibits a typical two-domain structure: N-terminal catalytic and C-terminal CBD.
- Bioinformatic analysis identified a PG_binding_1 domain within the Lyt μ1/6 CBD, suggesting peptidoglycan binding.
- The conserved nature of CBDs across Streptomyces phage endolysins implies a conserved binding mechanism.
Key Insights:
- The C-terminal domain of Lyt μ1/6 was successfully cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli.
- Binding assays confirmed that the Lyt μ1/6 CBD, when fused to GFP, specifically binds to the surface of Streptomyces aureofaciens NMU.
- This validates the functional role of the Lyt μ1/6 CBD in mediating phage-host interaction.
Outlook:
- Further characterization of the Lyt μ1/6 CBD can aid in understanding phage-bacterial interactions.
- The identified binding domain could be engineered for targeted delivery or antimicrobial applications.
- Investigating the precise binding site and mechanism will enhance knowledge of endolysin function.
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