Summary
Streptococcus pyogenes is the causative agent in a wide range of diseases in humans. Thrombin-activatable
fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) binds to collagen-like proteins SclA and SclB at the
surface of S. pyogenes. Activation of TAFI at this surface redirects inflammation
from a transient to chronic state by modulation of the kallikrein/kinin system. We
investigated TAFI binding characteristics to SclA/SclB. Thirty-four overlapping TAFI
peptides of ∼20 amino acids were generated. Two of these peptides (P18: residues G205-S221,
and P19: R214-D232) specifically bound to SclA/SclB with high affinity, and competed
in a dose-dependent manner with TAFI binding to SclA/SclB. In another series of experiments,
the binding properties of activated TAFI (TAFIa) to SclA/SclB were studied with a
quadruple TAFI mutant (TAFI-IIYQ) that after activation is a 70-fold more stable enzyme
than wild-type TAFIa. TAFI and TAFI-IIYQ bound to the bacterial proteins with similar
affinities. The rate of dissociation was different between the proenzyme (both TAFI
and TAFI-IIYQ) and the stable enzyme TAFIa-IIYQ. TAFIa-IIYQ bound to SclA/ SclB, but
dissociated faster than TAFI-IIYQ. In conclusion, the bacterial proteins SclA and
SclB bind to a TAFI fragment encompassing residues G205-D232. Binding of TAFI to the
bacteria may allow activation of TAFI, whereafter the enzyme easily dissociates.
Keywords
TAFI - collagen-like proteins - protein binding -
Streptococcus pyogenes