The Structure of the Elicitor Cerato-platanin (CP), the First Member of the CP Fungal Protein Family, Reveals a Double psi beta-Barrel Fold and Carbohydrate Binding

Author(s)

de Oliveira, Aline L. ^[1] ; Gallo, Mariana ^[2] ; Pazzagli, Luigia ^[3] ; Benedetti, Celso E. ^[1] ; Cappugi, Gianni ^[3] ; Scala, Aniello ^[4] ; Pantera, Barbara ^[3] ; Spisni, Alberto ^[5] ; Pertinhez, Thelma A. ^[5] ; Cicero, Daniel O. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Natl Lab Biosci, BR-13083100 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Roma Tor Vergata, Dept Chem Sci & Technol, I-00133 Rome - Italy

^[3] Univ Florence, Dept Biochem Sci, I-50134 Florence - Italy

^[4] Univ Florence, Dept Agr Biotechnol, I-50134 Florence - Italy

^[5] Univ Parma, Dept Expt Med, I-43125 Parma - Italy

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Biological Chemistry; v. 286, n. 20, p. 17560-17568, MAY 20 2011.
• Web of Science Citations: 55

Abstract

Cerato-platanin (CP) is a secretion protein produced by the fungal pathogen Ceratocystis platani, the causal agent of the plane canker disease and the first member of the CP family. CP is considered a pathogen-associated molecular pattern because it induces various defense responses in the host, including production of phytoalexins and cell death. Although much is known about the properties of CP and related proteins as elicitors of plant defense mechanisms, its biochemical activity and host target(s) remain elusive. Here, we present the three-dimensional structure of CP. The protein, which exhibits a remarkable pH and thermal stability, has a double psi beta-barrel fold quite similar to those found in expansins, endoglucanases, and the plant defense protein barwin. Interestingly, although CP lacks lytic activity against a variety of carbohydrates, it binds oligosaccharides. We identified the CP region responsible for binding as a shallow surface located at one side of the beta-barrel. Chemical shift perturbation of the protein amide protons, induced by oligo-N-acetylglucosamines of various size, showed that all the residues involved in oligosaccharide binding are conserved among the members of the CP family. Overall, the results suggest that CP might be involved in polysaccharide recognition and that the double psi beta-barrel fold is widespread in distantly related organisms, where it is often involved in host-microbe interactions. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 00/10266-8 - A structural biology laboratory network for the study of the 3D structures of proteins
• Grantee: Nilson Ivo Tonin Zanchin
• Support Opportunities: Genome Research Grants