Structural dynamics of receptor recognition and pH-induced dissociation of full-length Clostridioides difficile Toxin B

PLoS Biol. 2022 Mar 24;20(3):e3001589. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001589. eCollection 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Clostridioides difficile secretes Toxin B (TcdB) as one of its major virulence factors, which binds to intestinal epithelial and subepithelial receptors, including frizzled proteins and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4). Here, we present cryo-EM structures of full-length TcdB in complex with the CSPG4 domain 1 fragment (D1401-560) at cytosolic pH and the cysteine-rich domain of frizzled-2 (CRD2) at both cytosolic and acidic pHs. CSPG4 specifically binds to the autoprocessing and delivery domains of TcdB via networks of salt bridges, hydrophobic and aromatic/proline interactions, which are disrupted upon acidification eventually leading to CSPG4 drastically dissociating from TcdB. In contrast, FZD2 moderately dissociates from TcdB under acidic pH, most likely due to its partial unfolding. These results reveal structural dynamics of TcdB during its preentry step upon endosomal acidification, which provide a basis for developing therapeutics against C. difficile infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Bacterial Toxins* / metabolism
  • Clostridioides difficile*
  • Protein Domains
  • Virulence Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Virulence Factors