Group A streptococcal surface GAPDH, SDH, recognizes uPAR/CD87 as its receptor on the human pharyngeal cell and mediates bacterial adherence to host cells.

Streptococcal surface dehydrogenase (SDH) is a multifunctional, anchorless protein present on the surface of group A Streptococcus (GAS). It plays a regulatory role in GAS-mediated intracellular signaling events in human pharyngeal cells. Using ligand-binding assays, we have identified an approximately 55 kDa protein as an SDH-specific receptor protein on the surface of Detroit human pharyngeal cells. LC-MS/MS analyses identified this SDH-binding pharyngeal cell-surface-exposed membrane-bound protein as uPAR (urokinase plasminogen activator receptor)/CD87. Ligand-binding assays also revealed that only the N-terminal domain (D1) of uPAR bound to SDH. uPAR-D1 more specifically bound to the C-terminal alpha-helix and two immediate flanking regions of the S-loop of the SDH molecule. Site-directed mutagenesis in GAS resulting in SDH with altered C-terminal ends, and the removal of uPAR from pharyngeal cells by phosphatidylinositol-phopsholipase C treatment decreased GAS ability to adhere to pharyngeal cells. When compared to uninfected Detroit pharyngeal cells, GAS-infected pharyngeal cells showed a transient but a significant increase in the expression of uPAR-specific mRNA, and a prolonged recycling process of uPAR on the cell surface. Together, these results indicate that the specific streptococcal surface protein-pharyngeal cell receptor interaction mediated by SDH and uPAR is modulated during GAS infection of human pharyngeal cells. This interaction significantly contributes to bacterial adherence and thus may play a significant role in GAS pathogenesis by regulating intracellular signaling events in pharyngeal cells.

Role of the C-terminal lysine residues of streptococcal surface enolase in Glu- and Lys-plasminogen-binding activities of group A streptococci.

Streptococcal surface enolase (SEN) is a major plasminogen-binding protein of group A streptococci. Our earlier biochemical studies have suggested that the region responsible for this property is likely located at the C-terminal end of the SEN molecule. In the present study, the gene encoding SEN was cloned from group A streptococci M6 isolate D471. A series of mutations in the sen gene corresponding to the C-terminal region (428KSFYNLKK435) of the SEN molecule were created by either deleting one or more terminal lysine residues or replacing them with leucine. All purified recombinant SEN proteins with altered C-terminal ends were found to be enzymatically active and were analyzed for their Glu- and Lys-plasminogen-binding activities. Wild-type SEN bound to Lys-plasminogen with almost three times more affinity than to Glu-plasminogen. However, the recombinant mutant SEN proteins with a deletion of Lys434-435 or with K435L and K434-435L replacements showed a significant decrease in Glu- and Lys-plasminogen-binding activities. Accordingly, a streptococcal mutant expressing SEN-K434-435L showed a significant decrease in Glu- and Lys-plasminogen-binding activities. Biochemical and functional analyses of the isogenic mutant strain revealed a significant decrease in its abilities to cleave a chromogenic tripeptide substrate, acquire plasminogen from human plasma, and penetrate the extracellular matrix. Together, these data indicate that the last two C-terminal lysine residues of surface-exposed SEN contribute significantly to the plasminogen-binding activity of intact group A streptococci and hence to their ability to exploit host properties to their own advantage in tissue invasion.