7KP4

Crystal structure of human claudin-4 in complex with Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin C-terminal domain


Experimental Data Snapshot

  • Method: X-RAY DIFFRACTION
  • Resolution: 3.37 Å
  • R-Value Free: 0.296 
  • R-Value Work: 0.294 
  • R-Value Observed: 0.294 

Starting Model: experimental
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wwPDB Validation   3D Report Full Report


This is version 1.2 of the entry. See complete history


Literature

Structural basis for Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin targeting of claudins at tight junctions in mammalian gut.

Vecchio, A.J.Rathnayake, S.S.Stroud, R.M.

(2021) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 118

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2024651118
  • Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
    7KP4

  • PubMed Abstract: 

    The bacterium Clostridium perfringens causes severe, sometimes lethal gastrointestinal disorders in humans, including enteritis and enterotoxemia. Type F strains produce an enterotoxin (CpE) that causes the third most common foodborne illness in the United States. CpE induces gut breakdown by disrupting barriers at cell-cell contacts called tight junctions (TJs), which are formed and maintained by claudins. Targeted binding of CpE to specific claudins, encoded by its C-terminal domain (cCpE), loosens TJ barriers to trigger molecular leaks between cells. Cytotoxicity results from claudin-bound CpE complexes forming pores in cell membranes. In mammalian tissues, ∼24 claudins govern TJ barriers-but the basis for CpE's selective targeting of claudins in the gut was undetermined. We report the structure of human claudin-4 in complex with cCpE, which reveals that enterotoxin targets a motif conserved in receptive claudins and how the motif imparts high-affinity CpE binding to these but not other subtypes. The structural basis of CpE targeting is supported by binding affinities, kinetics, and half-lives of claudin-enterotoxin complexes and by the cytotoxic effects of CpE on claudin-expressing cells. By correlating the binding residence times of claudin-CpE complexes we determined to claudin expression patterns in the gut, we uncover that the primary CpE receptors differ in mice and humans due to sequence changes in the target motif. These findings provide the molecular and structural element CpE employs for subtype-specific targeting of claudins during pathogenicity of C. perfringens in the gut and a framework for new strategies to treat CpE-based illnesses in domesticated mammals and humans.


  • Organizational Affiliation

    Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588; avecchio@unl.edu stroud@msg.ucsf.edu.


Macromolecules
Find similar proteins by:  (by identity cutoff)  |  3D Structure
Entity ID: 1
MoleculeChains Sequence LengthOrganismDetailsImage
Claudin-4214Homo sapiensMutation(s): 0 
Gene Names: CLDN4CPERCPETR1WBSCR8
Membrane Entity: Yes 
UniProt & NIH Common Fund Data Resources
Find proteins for O14493 (Homo sapiens)
Explore O14493 
Go to UniProtKB:  O14493
PHAROS:  O14493
GTEx:  ENSG00000189143 
Entity Groups  
Sequence Clusters30% Identity50% Identity70% Identity90% Identity95% Identity100% Identity
UniProt GroupO14493
Sequence Annotations
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  • Reference Sequence
Find similar proteins by:  (by identity cutoff)  |  3D Structure
Entity ID: 2
MoleculeChains Sequence LengthOrganismDetailsImage
Heat-labile enterotoxin B chain134Clostridium perfringensMutation(s): 0 
Gene Names: cpe
UniProt
Find proteins for P01558 (Clostridium perfringens)
Explore P01558 
Go to UniProtKB:  P01558
Entity Groups  
Sequence Clusters30% Identity50% Identity70% Identity90% Identity95% Identity100% Identity
UniProt GroupP01558
Sequence Annotations
Expand
  • Reference Sequence
Experimental Data & Validation

Experimental Data

  • Method: X-RAY DIFFRACTION
  • Resolution: 3.37 Å
  • R-Value Free: 0.296 
  • R-Value Work: 0.294 
  • R-Value Observed: 0.294 
  • Space Group: P 21 21 21
Unit Cell:
Length ( Å )Angle ( ˚ )
a = 70.36α = 90
b = 116.23β = 90
c = 118.05γ = 90
Software Package:
Software NamePurpose
PHENIXrefinement
XDSdata reduction
XSCALEdata scaling
PHASERphasing

Structure Validation

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Entry History & Funding Information

Deposition Data


Funding OrganizationLocationGrant Number
National Institutes of Health/National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH/NIGMS)United StatesR35GM138368
National Institutes of Health/National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH/NIGMS)United StatesR01GM024485

Revision History  (Full details and data files)

  • Version 1.0: 2020-12-09
    Type: Initial release
  • Version 1.1: 2021-05-05
    Changes: Database references
  • Version 1.2: 2023-10-18
    Changes: Data collection, Database references, Refinement description