A zinc-dependent adhesion module is responsible for intercellular adhesion in staphylococcal biofilms.

ABSTRACT: Hospital-acquired bacterial infections are an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Staphylococcal species are responsible for the majority of hospital-acquired infections, which are often complicated by the ability of staphylococci to grow as biofilms. Biofilm formation by Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus requires cell-surface proteins (Aap and SasG) containing sequence repeats known as G5 domains; however, the precise role of these proteins in biofilm formation is unclear. We show here, using analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) and circular dichroism (CD), that G5 domains from Aap are zinc (Zn(2+))-dependent adhesion modules analogous to mammalian cadherin domains. The G5 domain dimerizes in the presence of Zn(2+), incorporating 2-3 Zn(2+

SUBMITTER: Conrady DG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2592360 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature