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The mechanism of action of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa-encoded type III cytotoxin, ExoU.
- Source :
-
The EMBO journal [EMBO J] 2003 Jun 16; Vol. 22 (12), pp. 2959-69. - Publication Year :
- 2003
-
Abstract
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa delivers the toxin ExoU to eukaryotic cells via a type III secretion system. Intoxication with ExoU is associated with lung injury, bacterial dissemination and sepsis in animal model and human infections. To search for ExoU targets in a genetically tractable system, we used controlled expression of the toxin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. ExoU was cytotoxic for yeast and caused a vacuolar fragmentation phenotype. Inhibitors of human calcium-independent (iPLA(2)) and cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) lipase activity reduce the cytotoxicity of ExoU. The catalytic domains of patatin, iPLA(2) and cPLA(2) align or are similar to ExoU sequences. Site-specific mutagenesis of predicted catalytic residues (ExoUS142A or ExoUD344A) eliminated toxicity. ExoU expression in yeast resulted in an accumulation of free palmitic acid, changes in the phospholipid profiles and reduction of radiolabeled neutral lipids. ExoUS142A and ExoUD344A expressed in yeast failed to release palmitic acid. Recombinant ExoU demonstrated lipase activity in vitro, but only in the presence of a yeast extract. From these data we conclude that ExoU is a lipase that requires activation or modification by eukaryotic factors.
- Subjects :
- Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Bacterial Proteins chemistry
Bacterial Proteins genetics
Bacterial Proteins toxicity
Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases genetics
Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases metabolism
Cell Line
Genes, Reporter
Humans
Lipase metabolism
Molecular Sequence Data
Phenotype
Phospholipases A antagonists & inhibitors
Phospholipases A metabolism
Plant Proteins genetics
Plant Proteins metabolism
Plant Proteins toxicity
Pseudomonas aeruginosa chemistry
Pseudomonas aeruginosa genetics
Recombinant Fusion Proteins genetics
Recombinant Fusion Proteins metabolism
Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytology
Sequence Alignment
Solvents
Bacterial Proteins metabolism
Pseudomonas aeruginosa metabolism
Saccharomyces cerevisiae physiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0261-4189
- Volume :
- 22
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The EMBO journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 12805211
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/emboj/cdg290