Structural comparison of ColH and ColG collagen-binding domains from Clostridium histolyticum.

Clostridium histolyticum secretes collagenases, ColG and ColH, that cause extensive tissue destruction in myonecrosis. The C-terminal collagen-binding domain (CBD) of collagenase is required for insoluble collagen fibril binding and subsequent collagenolysis. The high-resolution crystal structures of ColG-CBD (s3b) and ColH-CBD (s3) are reported in this paper. The new X-ray structure of s3 was solved at 2.0-Å resolution (R = 17.4%; R(free) = 23.3%), while the resolution of the previously determined s3b was extended to 1.4 Å (R = 17.9%; R(free) = 21.0%). Despite sharing only 30% sequence identity, the molecules resemble one another closely (root mean square deviation [RMSD] C(α) = 1.5 Å). All but one residue, whose side chain chelates with Ca(2+), are conserved. The dual Ca(2+) binding site in s3 is completed by an unconserved aspartate. Differential scanning calorimetric measurements showed that s3 gains thermal stability, comparable to s3b, by binding to Ca(2+) (holo T(m) = 94.1°C; apo T(m) = 70.2°C). holo s3 is also stabilized against chemical denaturants urea and guanidine HCl. The three most critical residues for collagen interaction in s3b are conserved in s3. The general shape of the binding pocket is retained by altered loop structures and side chain positions. Small-angle X-ray scattering data revealed that s3 also binds asymmetrically to minicollagen. Besides the calcium-binding sites and the collagen-binding pocket, architecturally important hydrophobic residues and the hydrogen-bonding network around the cis-peptide bond are well conserved within the metallopeptidase subfamily M9B. CBDs were previously shown to bind to the extracellular matrix of various tissues. Compactness and extreme stability in physiological Ca(2+) concentration possibly make both CBDs suitable for targeted growth factor delivery.

Bacterial collagen-binding domain targets undertwisted regions of collagen.

Clostridium histolyticum collagenase causes extensive degradation of collagen in connective tissue that results in gas gangrene. The C-terminal collagen-binding domain (CBD) of these enzymes is the minimal segment required to bind to a collagen fibril. CBD binds unidirectionally to the undertwisted C-terminus of triple helical collagen. Here, we examine whether CBD could also target undertwisted regions even in the middle of the triple helix. Collageneous peptides with an additional undertwisted region were synthesized by introducing a Gly → Ala substitution [(POG)(x) POA(POG)(y)]3, where x + y = 9 and x > 3). ¹H-¹5N heteronuclear single quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance (HSQC NMR) titration studies with ¹5N-labeled CBD demonstrated that the minicollagen binds to a 10 Å wide 25 Å long cleft. Six collagenous peptides each labeled with a nitroxide radical were then titrated with ¹5N-labeled CBD. CBD binds to either the Gly → Ala substitution site or to the C-terminus of each minicollagen. Small-angle X-ray scattering measurements revealed that CBD prefers to bind the Gly → Ala site to the C-terminus. The HSQC NMR spectra of ¹5N-labeled minicollagen and minicollagen with undertwisted regions were unaffected by the titration of unlabeled CBD. The results imply that CBD binds to the undertwisted region of the minicollagen but does not actively unwind the triple helix.

Probing the 3-D structure, dynamics, and stability of bacterial collagenase collagen binding domain (apo- versus holo-) by limited proteolysis MALDI-TOF MS.

Pairing limited proteolysis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to probe clostridial collagenase collagen binding domain (CBD) reveals the solution dynamics and stability of the protein, as these factors are crucial to CBD effectiveness as a drug-delivery vehicle. MS analysis of proteolytic digests indicates initial cleavage sites, thereby specifying the less stable and highly accessible regions of CBD. Modulation of protein structure and stability upon metal binding is shown through MS analysis of calcium-bound and cobalt-bound CBD proteolytic digests. Previously determined X-ray crystal structures illustrate that calcium binding induces secondary structure transformation in the highly mobile N-terminal arm and increases protein stability. MS-based detection of exposed residues confirms protein flexibility, accentuates N-terminal dynamics, and demonstrates increased global protein stability exported by calcium binding. Additionally, apo- and calcium-bound CBD proteolysis sites correlate well with crystallographic B-factors, accessibility, and enzyme specificity. MS-observed cleavage sites with no clear correlations are explained either by crystal contacts of the X-ray crystal structures or by observed differences between Molecules A and B in the X-ray crystal structures. The study newly reveals the absence of the ßA strand and thus the very dynamic N-terminal linker, as corroborated by the solution X-ray scattering results. Cobalt binding has a regional effect on the solution phase stability of CBD, as limited proteolysis data implies the capture of an intermediate-CBD solution structure when cobalt is bound.

Unidirectional binding of clostridial collagenase to triple helical substrates.

Histotoxic clostridia produce collagenases responsible for extensive tissue destruction in gas gangrene. The C-terminal collagen-binding domain (CBD) of these enzymes is the minimal segment required to bind to collagen fibril. Collagen binding efficiency of CBD is more pronounced in the presence of Ca(2+). We have shown that CBD can be functional to anchor growth factors in local tissue. A (1)H-(15)N HSQC NMR titration study with three different tropocollagen analogues ((POG)(10))(3), ((GPOG)(7)PRG)(3), and (GPRG(POG)(7)C-carbamidomethyl)(3), mapped a saddle-like binding cleft on CBD. NMR titrations with three nitroxide spin-labeled analogues of collagenous peptide, (PROXYL-G(POG)(7)PRG)(3), (PROXYL-G(POG)(7))(3), and (GPRG(POG)(7)C-PROXYL)(3) (where PROXYL represents 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-l-pyrrolidinyloxy), unambiguously demonstrated unidirectional binding of CBD to the tropocollagen analogues. Small angle x-ray scattering data revealed that CBD binds closer to a terminus for each of the five different tropocollagen analogues, which in conjunction with NMR titration studies, implies a binding mode where CBD binds to the C terminus of the triple helix.

1H, 13C and 15N resonance assignments of Ca2+ bound collagen-binding domain derived from a clostridial collagenase.

(1)H, (15)N, and (13)C NMR assignments for 116 amino acids (Gly893-Lys1008) of a bacterial collagen-binding domain (CBD) derived from Clostridium histolyticum class I collagenase were accomplished. Clostridial collagenases hydrolyze insoluble collagen. One to three copies of collagen-binding domains (CBDs) are present at their C-termini, each of which is the minimal segment required for the binding to the insoluble substrate. CBD has been shown to be able to anchor fused growth factors for up to 10 days in vivo. Structural analysis of the small domain with the unique function provides insights into designing a novel drug delivery vehicle by the rational drug design.