Fig 1. Similar domain organization of crystallized collagen-binding MSCRAMM adhesins.

The collagen-binding adhesin of Staphylococcus aureus, CNA, has similar domain structure as many other bacterial adhesins. Therefore, CNA serves as a model protein that will share functional binding characteristics as other bacteria. The following are abbreviated: S—signal peptide; N1, N2, N3—collagen-binding region; B—repeats region; W—cell wall-anchoring region; M—trans-membrane region; and C—cytoplasmic tail. As evident, CNA is a characteristic adhesin in which similar proteins can be found across many species of bacteria.