Adhesion to the digestive mucosa is considered a key factor for bacterial persistence within the gut. In this study, we show that Ruminococcus gnavus E1 can express the radA gene, which encodes an adhesin of the MSCRAMMs family, only when it colonizes the gut. The RadA N-terminal region contains an all-β bacterial Ig-like domain known to interact with collagens. We observed that it preferentially binds human immunoglobulins (IgA and IgG) and intestinal mucins. Using deglycosylated substrates, we also showed that the RadA N-terminal region recognizes two different types of motifs, the protein backbone of human IgG and the glycan structure of mucins. Finally, competition assays with lectins and free monosaccharides identified Galactose and N-Acetyl-Galactosamine motifs as specific targets for the binding of RadA to mucins and the surface of human epithelial cells.
