A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Predicting the ligand-binding properties of Borrelia burgdorferi ss Bmp proteins in light of the conserved features of related Borrelia proteins
Authors: Åstrand Mia, Cuellar Julia, Hytönen Jukka, Salminen Tiina A.
Publication year: 2019
Journal: Journal of Theoretical Biology
Journal name in source: Journal of theoretical biology
Journal acronym: J Theor Biol
Volume: 462
First page : 97
Last page: 108
ISSN: 0022-5193
eISSN: 1095-8541
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.11.004
Web address : https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022519318305514
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/36982647
Bacteria of the genus Borrelia cause vector-borne infections like the most important hard tick-borne disease in the northern hemisphere, Lyme borreliosis (LB), and soft tick or louse transmitted relapsing fevers (RF), prevalent in temperate and tropical areas. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) includes several genospecies and causes LB in humans. In infected patients, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) expresses the BmpA, BmpB, BmpC and BmpD proteins. The role of these proteins in the pathogenesis of LB remains incompletely characterized, but they are, however, closely related to Treponema pallidum PnrA (Purine nucleoside receptor A), a substrate-binding lipoprotein of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family preferentially binding purine nucleosides. Based on 3D homology modeling, the Bmp proteins share the typical fold of the substrate-binding protein family and the ligand-binding properties of BmpA, BmpB and BmpD are highly similar, whereas those of BmpC differ markedly. Nevertheless, these residues are highly conserved within the genus Borrelia and the inferred phylogenetic tree also reveals that the RF Borrelia lack BmpB proteins but has an additional Bmp protein (BmpA2) missing in LB-causing Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. Our results indicate that the Bmp proteins could bind nucleosides, although BmpC might have a different ligand-binding specificity and, therefore, a distinct function. Furthermore, the work provides a means for classifying the Bmp proteins and supports further elucidation of the roles of these proteins.
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