Fibronectin binding protein A (FnBPA) is a ''

Staphylococcus aureus ''Staphylococcus aureus'' is a Gram-positive spherically shaped bacterium, a member of the Bacillota, and is a usual member of the microbiota of the body, frequently found in the upper respiratory tract and on the skin. It is often posi ...

'' MSCRAMM cell surface-bound protein that binds to both fibronectin and fibrinogen. It is an adhesin which enables ''Staphylococcus aureus'' (''S. aureus'') to adhere to host cells of another organism, and an invasin facilitating its internalisation into these cells. This is true over a range of different cell types. The FnBP alone is capable of providing this invasive property, without the requirement of co-receptors. Even FnBP coated beads have been shown to become internalised into cells ''S. aureus'' is able to bind to host cells in the absence of the FnBP, but its adherence and invasive properties are much reduced (up to a 500-fold decrease in number of internalised cells)

Structure

The FnBP inserts into the cell wall of ''S. aureus'' by means of a C-terminal LPXTG anchor. Two fibronectin binding domains have been identified - one is present in the C-terminal D repeat region, and one in the N-terminal A region

Mechanism

The fibronectin binding protein is able to bind fibronectin present in the extracellular matrix. Similarly, the α5β1 integrin present on host cells also binds fibronectin to create a link to its actin cytoskeleton, binding via the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif present in fibronectin. Fibronectin is able to act as a ‘bridge’ between ''S. aureus'' and the host cell, with both ''S. aureus'' and the host cell binding at either end of the molecule, and therefore facilitate adherence.

Clinical significance

The FnBP is involved in adherence to a wide range of mammalian cells and is hence implicated in various infections. It is implicated in the pathogenesis of

osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis (OM) is the infectious inflammation of bone marrow. Symptoms may include pain in a specific bone with overlying redness, fever, and weakness. The feet, spine, and hips are the most commonly involved bones in adults. The cause is ...

, and is the predominant adhesin for adherence to osteoblasts, a cell type present in large quantities within bone. Few ''S. aureus'' cells become internalised into osteoblasts in the absence of the FnBP FnBPs are essential in the formation of biofilms by community-associated methicillin-resistant ''Staphylococcus aureus'' strain LAC. They are specifically involved in primary attachment.

References

{{Toxins Blood proteins