Structural Basis for Cell-Wall Recognition by Bacteriophage PBC5 Endolysin.
Lee, K.O., Kong, M., Kim, I., Bai, J., Cha, S., Kim, B., Ryu, K.S., Ryu, S., Suh, J.Y.(2019) Structure 27: 1355-1365.e4
- PubMed: 31353242 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.str.2019.07.001
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
6ILU - PubMed Abstract: 
Phage endolysins are hydrolytic enzymes that cleave the bacterial cell wall during the lytic cycle. We isolated the bacteriophage PBC5 against Bacillus cereus, a major foodborne pathogen, and describe the molecular interaction between endolysin LysPBC5 and the host peptidoglycan structure. LysPBC5 has an N-terminal glycoside hydrolase 25 domain, and a C-terminal cell-wall binding domain (CBD) that is critical for specific cell-wall recognition and lysis. The crystal and solution structures of CBDs reveal tandem SH3b domains that are tightly engaged with each other. The CBD binds to the peptidoglycan in a bidentate manner via distal β sheet motifs with pseudo 2-fold symmetry, which can explain its high affinity and host specificity. The CBD primarily interacts with the glycan strand of the peptidoglycan layer instead of the peptide crosslink, implicating the tertiary structure of peptidoglycan as the recognition motif of endolysins.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea; Protein Structure Research Team, Korea Basic Science Institute, 162 Yeongudanji-Ro, Ochang-Eup, Cheongju-Si, Chungcheongbuk-Do 28119, South Korea.