Localization of the binding site for streptococcal protein G on human serum albumin. Identification of a 5.5-kilodalton protein G binding albumin fragment.

Protein G is a streptococcal cell wall protein with separate and repetitively arranged binding domains for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and human serum albumin (HSA). In this work, the binding of protein G to HSA was studied. The results suggest that a single binding site is present on HSA: the apparent size of the HSA-protein G complex (230 kDa) corresponded to two or three HSA molecules bound to one protein G molecule, and Ouchterlony immunodiffusion did not yield any precipitate between protein G and HSA. HSA was cleaved by pepsin and CNBr into several fragments which were identified by SDS-PAGE and N-terminal amino acid sequencing, and the binding of protein G to the fragments was studied in Western blot experiments. The results indicated that the binding area was located in disulfide loops 6-8, involving both the second (loop 6) and the third (loops 7 and 8) domain of HSA. One of the protein G binding pepsin fragments, with an apparent molecular mass of 5.5 kDa, located in loops 7 and 8, was isolated and found to completely inhibit the binding between protein G and the intact HSA, again suggesting a single protein G binding site on serum albumin. Reducing the disulfide bonds of HSA, and subsequent alkylation of the half-cystine residues, significantly decreased the affinity for protein G. Protein G bound to albumin from baboon, cat, guinea pig, hamster, hen, horse, man, mouse, and rat, but not to albumin from cow, dog, goat, pig, rabbit, sheep, snake, or turkey.