Putative protein product of HMFN1045 (253-264)

Residues in the second extracellular loop (e2) play a role in ligand binding in certain aminergic G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). N-[3-(1H-Imidazol-4-yl)propyl)]guanidines and N (G)-acylated derivatives are more efficacious and potent agonists at fusion proteins of the guinea pig histamine H(2) receptor and the short splice variant of G(salpha), G(salphaS) (gpH(2)R-G(salphaS)) than at the human isoform (hH(2)R-G(salphaS)). To elucidate the structural basis for this species-selectivity, we generated a mutant hH(2)R-G(salphaS) fusion protein with the four e2 residues differing in both species isoforms mutated into the gpH(2)R sequence, and a reverse mutant of the gpH(2)R-G(salphaS) with the corresponding mutations into the human species. In a steady-state GTPase activity assay, efficacies and potencies of guanidine-type agonists were similar at mutant and wild-type receptors indicating that e2 does not contribute to the species-selectivity. In several class 1 GPCRs, amino acids in the vicinity of a highly conserved cysteine in e2 participate in ligand binding. A three-dimensional homology model of the hH(2)R predicted Lys-173 and Lys-175, adjacent to Cys-174 in e2, to be in close proximity to the binding pocket of guanidine-type agonists. To elucidate the putative role of both residues for interactions with the agonists, two hH(2)R-G(salphaS) fusion proteins, with single-point mutations of Lys-173-->Ala-173 and Lys-175-->Ala-175 respectively, were generated. With these mutants, the efficacies and potencies of small and bulky H(2)R agonists did not significantly change. However, increases in GTPase activity upon agonist stimulation were reduced, suggesting an impact of both residues on the efficiency of receptor coupling to G(salphaS). In conclusion, none of the point mutations generated within this study substantially altered the efficacies and potencies of guanidine-type agonists relative to the wild-type receptors, suggesting that these residues do not directly face the H(2)R guanidine-binding pocket. Thus, agonist binding to residues in e2 is relevant for some but not all aminergic GPCRs.

The FimH subunit of type 1-fimbriated Escherichia coli has been implicated as an important determinant of bacterial adherence and colonization of the urinary tract. Here, we sought to localize the functionally important domain(s) within the FimH molecule and to determine if antibodies against this domain would block adherence of type 1-fimbriated E. coli to the bladder mucosa in situ and in vivo in an established mouse model of cystitis. We generated translational fusion proteins of disparate regions of the FimH molecule with an affinity tag MalE, and tested each of the fusion products in vitro for functional activity. The minimum region responsible for binding mouse bladder epithelial cells and a soluble mannoprotein, horseradish peroxidase, was contained within residues 1-100 of the FimH molecule. We validated and extended these findings by demonstrating that antibodies directed at the putative binding region of FimH or at synthetic peptides corresponding to epitopes within the binding domain could specifically block type 1 fimbriae-mediated bacterial adherence to bladder epithelial cells in situ and yeast cells in vitro. Next, we compared the ability of mice passively immunized intraperitoneally with antisera raised against residues 1-25 and 253-264 of FimH or 1-13 of FimA to resist bladder colonization in vivo after intravesicular challenge with type 1-fimbriated E. coli. Only the antibody directed at the putative binding region of FimH (anti- s-FimH1-25) significantly reduced E. coli bladder infections in the experimental mouse model of urinary tract infections. Similar results were obtained when the mice were actively immunized with synthetic peptides corresponding to residues 1-25 and 253-264 of FimH or 1-13 of FimA. The mechanism of protection was attributed, at least in part, to inhibition of bacterial adherence to the bladder surface by s-FimH1-25-specific antibody molecules that had filtered through the kidneys into the urine. The level of FimH antibodies entering the bladder from the circulatory system of the immunized mice was found to be markedly enhanced upon bacterial challenge. The potential broad spectrum activity of the protective FimH antibody was indicated from its serologic cross-reactivity with various urinary tract bacterial isolates bearing type 1 fimbriae. These findings could be relevant in the design of an efficacious and broadly reactive FimH vaccine against urinary tract infections.