2590. Streptolysin O Enhances Binding of the Group A Streptococcal NAD+-Glycohydrolase Toxin to Oropharyngeal Keratinocytes

Abstract

BackgroundStreptolysin O (SLO) and the NAD+-glycohydrolase (NADase) are co-toxins secreted by group A Streptococcus (GAS) that play a significant role in virulence. NADase requires SLO for translocation into the host cell cytoplasm, a process termed cytolysin-mediated translocation (CMT). Recently, we noted that interaction of the two toxins mutually increased their stability. Although NADase is predicted to bind to the host cell surface, this interaction is incompletely understood. Here, we investigate potential mechanisms by which NADase binds to oropharyngeal keratinocytes.MethodsThe amino terminal region of NADase has been implicated in CMT, but the structure of the putative translocation domain has not been characterized. We determined the solution structure of this domain by NMR spectroscopy. We used flow-cytometry and confocal microscopy to investigate whether NADase could interact directly with oropharyngeal keratinocytes. Finally, since we expect that NADase and SLO are co-expressed from the same operon, are secreted in a coordinated fashion, and interact in solution, we tested whether SLO affects NADase binding to host cells.ResultsThe solution structure of the NADase translocation domain revealed a β-sandwich fold with an elongated N-terminal intrinsically disordered region. Structural homology searches (DALI) identified a potential carbohydrate binding module, suggesting the translocation domain could play a role in glycan binding. We also demonstrated by flow-cytometry that purified recombinant NADase toxin is able to independently interact with the cell surface of oropharyngeal keratinocytes. Importantly, interaction with SLO significantly enhanced the association of NADase with the cell surface, resulting in a 5-fold increase of the geometric mean fluorescence intensity.ConclusionThe structure of the NADase translocation domain reveals a potential carbohydrate binding module, which may mediate binding of the toxin to a cell-surface glycan. Binding of NADase to host cells is markedly enhanced by its interaction with SLO. We conclude that interaction of the two toxins contributes to the CMT process by functionally increasing the local concentration of NADase at the cell surface.Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.