Cyclic diguanylate monophosphate directly binds to human siderocalin and inhibits its antibacterial activity

Nat Commun. 2015 Sep 22:6:8330. doi: 10.1038/ncomms9330.

Abstract

Cyclic diguanylate monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is a well-conserved second messenger in bacteria. During infection, the innate immune system can also sense c-di-GMP; however, whether bacterial pathogens utilize c-di-GMP as a weapon to fight against host defense for survival and possible mechanisms underlying this process remain poorly understood. Siderocalin (LCN2) is a key antibacterial component of the innate immune system and sequesters bacterial siderophores to prevent acquisition of iron. Here we show that c-di-GMP can directly target the human LCN2 protein to inhibit its antibacterial activity. We demonstrate that c-di-GMP specifically binds to LCN2. In addition, c-di-GMP can compete with bacterial ferric siderophores to bind LCN2. Furthermore, c-di-GMP can significantly reduce LCN2-mediated inhibition on the in vitro growth of Escherichia coli. Thus, LCN2 acts as a c-di-GMP receptor. Our findings provide insight into the mechanism by which bacteria utilize c-di-GMP to interfere with the innate immune system for survival.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute-Phase Proteins / genetics
  • Acute-Phase Proteins / metabolism*
  • Acute-Phase Proteins / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / metabolism*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cyclic GMP / analogs & derivatives
  • Cyclic GMP / metabolism
  • Databases, Factual
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Lipocalin-2
  • Lipocalins / genetics
  • Lipocalins / metabolism*
  • Lipocalins / pharmacology
  • Models, Chemical
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / pharmacology
  • Recombinant Proteins

Substances

  • Acute-Phase Proteins
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Carrier Proteins
  • LCN2 protein, human
  • Lipocalin-2
  • Lipocalins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid
  • Cyclic GMP