Exoenzyme T of Pseudomonas aeruginosa elicits cytotoxicity without interfering with Ras signal transduction

14-3-3 Activated Bacterial Exotoxins AexT and ExoT Share Actin and the SH2 Domains of CRK Proteins as Targets for ADP-Ribosylation

Bacterial exotoxins with ADP-ribosyltransferase activity can be divided into distinct clades based on their domain organization. Exotoxins from several clades are known to modify actin at Arg177; but of the 14-3-3 dependent exotoxins only Aeromonas salmonicida exoenzyme T (AexT) has been reported to ADP-ribosylate actin. Given the extensive similarity among the 14-3-3 dependent exotoxins, we initiated a structural and biochemical comparison of these proteins. Structural modeling of AexT indicated a target binding site that shared homology with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exoenzyme T (ExoT) but not with Exoenzyme S (ExoS). Biochemical analyses confirmed that the catalytic activities of both exotoxins were stimulated by agmatine, indicating that they ADP-ribosylate arginine residues in their targets. Side-by-side comparison of target protein modification showed that AexT had activity toward the SH2 domain of the Crk-like protein (CRKL), a known target for ExoT. We found that both AexT and ExoT ADP-ribosylated actin and in both cases, the modification compromised actin polymerization. Our results indicate that AexT and ExoT are functional homologs that affect cytoskeletal integrity via actin and signaling pathways to the cytoskeleton.

Virulence Factors of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Antivirulence Strategies to Combat Its Drug Resistance

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen causing nosocomial infections in severely ill and immunocompromised patients. Ubiquitously disseminated in the environment, especially in hospitals, it has become a major threat to human health due to the constant emergence of drug-resistant strains. Multiple resistance mechanisms are exploited by P. aeruginosa, which usually result in chronic infections difficult to eradicate. Diverse virulence factors responsible for bacterial adhesion and colonization, host immune suppression, and immune escape, play important roles in the pathogenic process of P. aeruginosa. As such, antivirulence treatment that aims at reducing virulence while sparing the bacterium for its eventual elimination by the immune system, or combination therapies, has significant advantages over traditional antibiotic therapy, as the former imposes minimal selective pressure on P. aeruginosa, thus less likely to induce drug resistance. In this review, we will discuss the virulence factors of P. aeruginosa, their pathogenic roles, and recent advances in antivirulence drug discovery for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections.

Epithelial cell lysates induce ExoS expression and secretion by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The type three secretion system (T3SS) is important for the intracellular survival of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Known T3SS inducers include low Ca2+, serum or host cell contact. Here, we used corneal epithelial cell lysates to test if host cytosolic factors could also induce the T3SS. Invasive P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 was exposed to cell lysates for 16 h, and expression of T3SS effectors determined by q-PCR and Western immunoblot. Lysate exposure reduced PAO1 growth (∼5-fold) versus trypticase soy broth (TSB), but also resulted in appearance of a protein in culture supernatants, but not bacterial cell pellets, which reacted with antibody raised against ExoS. T3SS-inducing media (TSBi) caused the expression and secretion of ExoS and ExoT. Heat-treated lysates induced the protein; 1:3 diluted lysates did not. The protein that bound anti-ExoS antibody was found in supernatants of lysate-exposed exoT mutants, but not exoS or pscC mutants, suggesting a secreted form of ExoS, albeit slightly larger than that induced by TSBi. Lysate-exposed strain PAK expressed the same protein. Lysates caused PAO1 exoS and exoT gene expression, but only ∼20% and ∼6% of TSBi, respectively. T3SS induction by epithelial cell lysates could help explain T3SS expression by internalized P. aeruginosa.

The salicylidene acylhydrazide INP0341 attenuates Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence in vitro and in vivo

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that can be very hard to treat because of high resistance to different antibiotics and alternative treatment regimens are greatly needed. An alternative or a complement to traditional antibiotic is to inhibit virulence of the bacteria. The salicylidene acylhydrazide, INP0341, belongs to a class of compounds that has previously been shown to inhibit virulence in a number of Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, the virulence blocking effect of INP0341 on P. aeruginosa was studied in vitro and in vivo. Two important and closely related virulence system were examined, the type III secretion system (T3SS) that translocates virulence effectors into the cytosol of the host cell to evade immune defense and facilitate colonization and the flagella system, needed for motility and biofilm formation. INP0341 was shown to inhibit expression and secretion of the T3SS toxin exoenzyme S (ExoS) and to prevent bacterial motility on agar plates and biofilm formation. In addition, INP0341 showed an increased survival of P. aeruginosa-infected mice. In conclusion, INP0341 attenuates P. aeruginosa virulence.

Salicylidene Acylhydrazides and Hydroxyquinolines Act as Inhibitors of Type Three Secretion Systems in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by Distinct Mechanisms

Type 3 secretion systems (T3SSs) are major virulence factors in Gram-negative bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa expresses two T3SSs, namely, an injectisome (iT3SS) translocating effector proteins in the host cell cytosol and a flagellum (fT3SS) ensuring bacterial motility. Inhibiting these systems is an appealing therapeutic strategy for acute infections. This study examines the protective effects of the salicylidene acylhydrazide INP0341 and of the hydroxyquinoline INP1750 (previously described as T3SS inhibitors in other species) toward cytotoxic effects of P. aeruginosain vitro Both compounds reduced cell necrosis and inflammasome activation induced by reference strains or clinical isolates expressing T3SS toxins or only the translocation apparatus. INP0341 inhibited iT3SS transcriptional activation, including in strains with constitutive iT3SS expression, and reduced the total expression of toxins, suggesting it targets iT3SS gene transcription. INP1750 inhibited toxin secretion and flagellar motility and impaired the activity of the YscN ATPase from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (homologous to the ATPase present in the basal body of P. aeruginosa iT3SS and fT3SS), suggesting that it rather targets a T3SS core constituent with high homology among iT3SS and fT3SS. This mode of action is similar to that previously described for INP1855, another hydroxyquinoline, against P. aeruginosa Thus, although acting by different mechanisms, INP0341 and INP1750 appear as useful inhibitors of the virulence of P. aeruginosa Hydroxyquinolines may have a broader spectrum of activity by the fact they act upon two virulence factors (iT3SS and fT3SS).

Inhibition of the Injectisome and Flagellar Type III Secretion Systems by INP1855 Impairs Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pathogenicity and Inflammasome Activation

With the rise of multidrug resistance, Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections require alternative therapeutics. The injectisome (iT3SS) and flagellar (fT3SS) type III secretion systems are 2 virulence factors associated with poor clinical outcomes. iT3SS translocates toxins, rod, needle, or regulator proteins, and flagellin into the host cell cytoplasm and causes cytotoxicity and NLRC4-dependent inflammasome activation, which induces interleukin 1β (IL-1β) release and reduces interleukin 17 (IL-17) production and bacterial clearance. fT3SS ensures bacterial motility, attachment to the host cells, and triggers inflammation. INP1855 is an iT3SS inhibitor identified by in vitro screening, using Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Using a mouse model of P. aeruginosa pulmonary infection, we show that INP1855 improves survival after infection with an iT3SS-positive strain, reduces bacterial pathogenicity and dissemination and IL-1β secretion, and increases IL-17 secretion. INP1855 also modified the cytokine balance in mice infected with an iT3SS-negative, fT3SS-positive strain. In vitro, INP1855 impaired iT3SS and fT3SS functionality, as evidenced by a reduction in secretory activity and flagellar motility and an increase in adenosine triphosphate levels. As a result, INP1855 decreased cytotoxicity mediated by toxins and by inflammasome activation induced by both laboratory strains and clinical isolates. We conclude that INP1855 acts by dual inhibition of iT3SS and fT3SS and represents a promising therapeutic approach.

How Bacteria Subvert Animal Cell Structure and Function

Bacterial pathogens encode a wide variety of effectors and toxins that hijack host cell structure and function. Of particular importance are virulence factors that target actin cytoskeleton dynamics critical for cell shape, stability, motility, phagocytosis, and division. In addition, many bacteria target organelles of the general secretory pathway (e.g., the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex) and recycling pathways (e.g., the endolysosomal system) to establish and maintain an intracellular replicative niche. Recent research on the biochemistry and structural biology of bacterial effector proteins and toxins has begun to shed light on the molecular underpinnings of these host-pathogen interactions. This exciting work is revealing how pathogens gain control of the complex and dynamic host cellular environments, which impacts our understanding of microbial infectious disease, immunology, and human cell biology.

PcrV antibody-antibiotic combination improves survival in Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected mice

The type III secretion system (TTSS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, associated with acute infection, facilitates the direct injection of cytotoxins into the host cell cytoplasm. Mab166, a murine monoclonal antibody against PcrV, a protein located at the tip of the injectisome, has demonstrated efficacy against P. aeruginosa infection, resulting in reduced lung injury and increased survival in murine models of infection. We hypothesised that the administration of Mab166 in combination with an antibiotic would further improve the survival of P. aeruginosa-infected mice. A murine model of P. aeruginosa acute infection, three clinically relevant antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, tobramycin and ceftazidime) and the Mab166 antibody were used for this study. Consistently, compared to other treatment groups (antibiotic or antibody administered in isolation), the combination of Mab166 and antibiotic significantly improved the survival of mice infected with three times the lethal dose (LD(90)) of the highly cytotoxic ExoU-secreting strain, PA103. This synergistic effect was primarily due to enhanced bactericidal effect and protection against lung injury, which prevented bacterial dissemination to other organs. Hence, the combination of Mab166 with antibiotic administration provides a new, more effective strategy against P. aeruginosa airway infection, especially when large numbers of highly virulent strains are present.

The RACK1 signaling scaffold protein selectively interacts with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis virulence function

Many gram-negative bacteria use type III secretion systems to translocate effector proteins into host cells. These effectors interfere with cellular functions in a highly regulated manner resulting in effects that are beneficial for the bacteria. The pathogen Yersinia can resist phagocytosis by eukaryotic cells by translocating Yop effectors into the target cell cytoplasm. This is called antiphagocytosis, and constitutes an important virulence feature of this pathogen since it allows survival in immune cell rich lymphoid organs. We show here that the virulence protein YopK has a role in orchestrating effector translocation necessary for productive antiphagocytosis. We present data showing that YopK influences Yop effector translocation by modulating the ratio of the pore-forming proteins YopB and YopD in the target cell membrane. Further, we show that YopK that can interact with the translocators, is exposed inside target cells and binds to the eukaryotic signaling protein RACK1. This protein is engaged upon Y. pseudotuberculosis-mediated β1-integrin activation and localizes to phagocytic cups. Cells with downregulated RACK1 levels are protected from antiphagocytosis. This resistance is not due to altered levels of translocated antiphagocytic effectors, and cells with reduced levels of RACK1 are still sensitive to the later occurring cytotoxic effect caused by the Yop effectors. Further, a yopK mutant unable to bind RACK1 shows an avirulent phenotype during mouse infection, suggesting that RACK1 targeting by YopK is a requirement for virulence. Together, our data imply that the local event of Yersinia-mediated antiphagocytosis involves a step where YopK, by binding RACK1, ensures an immediate specific spatial delivery of antiphagocytic effectors leading to productive inhibition of phagocytosis.

Regulation of Yersinia Yop-effector delivery by translocated YopE

The bacterial pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis uses a type III secretion (T3S) system to translocate Yop effectors into eukaryotic cells. Effectors are thought to gain access to the cytosol via pores formed in the host cell plasma membrane. Translocated YopE can modulate this pore formation through its GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity. In this study, we analysed the role of translocated YopE and all the other known Yop effectors in the regulation of effector translocation. Elevated levels of Yop effector translocation into HeLa cells occurred by YopE-defective strains, but not those defective for other Yop effectors. Only Yersinia devoid of YopK exhibits a similar hyper-translocation phenotype. Since both yopK and yopE mutants also failed to down-regulate Yop synthesis in the presence of eukaryotic cells, these data imply that translocated YopE specifically regulates subsequent effector translocation by Yersinia through at least one mechanism that involves YopK. We suggest that the GAP activity of YopE might be working as an intra-cellular probe measuring the amount of protein translocated by Yersinia during infection. This may be a general feature of T3S-associated GAP proteins, since two homologues from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, exoenzyme S (ExoS) and exoenzyme T (ExoT), can complement the hyper-translocation phenotypes of the yopE GAP mutant.

Identification and characterization of VopT, a novel ADP-ribosyltransferase effector protein secreted via the Vibrio parahaemolyticus type III secretion system 2

Vibrio parahaemolyticus strain RIMD2210633 has two sets of genes encoding two separate type III secretion systems (T3SSs), called T3SS1 and T3SS2. T3SS2 has a role in enterotoxicity and is present only in Kanagawa phenomenon-positive strains, which are pathogenic to humans. Accordingly, T3SS2 is considered to be closely related to V. parahaemolyticus human pathogenicity. Despite this, the biological actions of T3SS2 and the identity of the effector protein(s) secreted by this system have not been well understood. Here we report that T3SS2 induces a cytotoxic effect in Caco-2 and HCT-8 cells. Moreover, it was revealed that VPA1327 (vopT), a gene encoded within the proximity of T3SS2, is partly responsible for this cytotoxic effect. The VopT shows approximately 45% and 44% identity with the ADP-ribosyltransferase (ADPRT) domain of ExoT and ExoS, respectively, which are two T3SS-secreted effectors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. T3SS2 was found to be necessary not only for the secretion, but also for the translocation of the VopT into host cells. We also demonstrate that VopT ADP-ribosylates Ras, a member of the low-molecular-weight G (LMWG) proteins both in vivo and in vitro. These results indicate that VopT is a novel ADPRT effector secreted via V. parahaemolyticus T3SS.

Small molecule inhibitors of type III secretion inYersiniablock theChlamydia pneumoniaeinfection cycle

Intracellular parasitism by Chlamydiales is a complex process involving transmission of metabolically inactive particles that differentiate, replicate, and re-differentiate within the host cell. A type three secretion system (T3SS) has been implicated in this process. We have here identified small molecules of a chemical class of acylated hydrazones of salicylaldehydes that specifically blocks the T3SS of Chlamydia. These compounds also affect the developmental cycle showing that the T3SS has a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of Chlamydia. Our results suggest a previously unexplored avenue for development of novel anti-chlamydial drugs.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of airway epithelial cells modulates expression of Kruppel-like factors 2 and 6 via RsmA-mediated regulation of type III exoenzymes S and Y

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen which is capable of causing both acute and chronic infections in immunocompromised patients. Successful adaptation of the bacterium to its host environment relies on the ability of the organism to tightly regulate gene expression. RsmA, a small RNA-binding protein, controls the expression of a large number of virulence-related genes in P. aeruginosa, including those encoding the type III secretion system and associated effector proteins, with important consequences for epithelial cell morphology and cytotoxicity. In order to examine the influence of RsmA-regulated functions in the pathogen on gene expression in the host, we compared global expression profiles of airway epithelial cells in response to infection with P. aeruginosa PAO1 and an rsmA mutant. The RsmA-dependent response of host cells was characterized by significant changes in the global transcriptional pattern, including the increased expression of two Kruppel-like factors, KLF2 and KLF6. This increased expression was mediated by specific type III effector proteins. ExoS was required for the enhanced expression of KLF2, whereas both ExoS and ExoY were required for the enhanced expression of KLF6. Neither ExoT nor ExoU influenced the expression of the transcription factors. Additionally, the increased gene expression of KLF2 and KLF6 was associated with ExoS-mediated cytotoxicity. Therefore, this study identifies for the first time the human transcription factors KLF2 and KLF6 as targets of the P. aeruginosa type III exoenzymes S and Y, with potential importance in host cell death.

WtsE, an AvrE-family effector protein from Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii, causes disease-associated cell death in corn and requires a chaperone protein for stability

The pathogenicity of Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii to sweet corn and maize requires a Hrp type III secretion system. In this study, we genetically and functionally characterized a disease-specific (Dsp) effector locus, composed of wtsE and wtsF, that is adjacent to the hrp gene cluster. WtsE, a member of the AvrE family of effector proteins, was essential for pathogenesis on corn and was complemented by DspA/E from Erwinia amylovora. An intact C-terminus of WtsE, which contained a putative endoplasmic reticulum membrane retention signal, was important for function of WtsE. Delivery of WtsE into sweet corn leaves by an Escherichia coli strain carrying the hrp cluster of Erwinia chrysanthemi caused water-soaking and necrosis. WtsE-induced cell death was not inhibited by cycloheximide treatment, unlike the hypersensitive response caused by a known Avr protein, AvrRxol. WtsF, the putative chaperone of WtsE, was not required for secretion of WtsE from P. stewartii, and the virulence of wtsF mutants was reduced only at low inoculum concentrations. However, WtsF was required for full accumulation of WtsE within the bacteria at low temperatures. In contrast, WtsF was needed for efficient delivery of WtsE from E. coli via the Erwinia chrysanthemi Hrp system.

Exoenzyme S of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is not able to induce apoptosis when cells express activated proteins, such as Ras or protein kinase B/Akt

Intracellular targeting of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa toxins, such as exoenzyme S (ExoS), cause cell death, as well as morphological and physiological changes in various tissue culture cells and animal models. In this report we have investigated the mechanism behind ExoS-mediated cell death. In order to address this issue, we have used cell lines expressing activated forms of various components of the Ras signalling pathway in order to evaluate the importance of the Ras pathway for viability and survival upon ExoS infection. Here we show that activated Ras is able to protect cells against cell death, regardless of whether it has been ADP-ribosylated by ExoS. Further, an activated form of protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt also leads to decreased level of cell death in response to ExoS infection, indicating that an important ExoS survival target is located upstream of Raf-1 and PKB/Akt. Moreover, we show that ExoS infection inhibits phosphorylation of FOXO3a, and induces caspase-3 activity, which are hallmarks for induction of cell death. In conclusion, we suggest that Ras proteins are an important cellular target for the P. aeruginosa toxin ExoS, which induces cell death during pathogenesis as a means of defending the bacterium against eukaryotic phagocytosis.

Active cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 associated with outer membrane vesicles from uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1 (CNF1) is one of the virulence factors produced by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). How this toxin is translocated from the bacterial cytoplasm to the surrounding environment is not well understood. Our data suggest that CNF1 may be regarded as a secreted protein, since it could be detected in culture supernatants. Furthermore, we found that CNF1 was tightly associated to outer membrane vesicles, suggesting that such vesicles play a role in the secretion of this protein. Interestingly, vesicle samples containing CNF1 could exert the effects known for this protein on HeLa cell cultures, showing that CNF1 is transported by vesicles in its active form. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that outer membrane vesicles could be a means for the bacteria to deliver CNF1 to the environment and to the infected tissue. In addition, our results indicate that the histone-like nucleoid structuring protein H-NS has a role in the downregulation of CNF1 production and that it affects the outer membrane vesicle release in UPEC strain J96.

Mapping of a YscY binding domain within the LcrH chaperone that is required for regulation of Yersinia type III secretion

Type III secretion systems are used by many animal and plant interacting bacteria to colonize their host. These systems are often composed of at least 40 genes, making their temporal and spatial regulation very complex. Some type III chaperones of the translocator class are important regulatory molecules, such as the LcrH chaperone of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. In contrast, the highly homologous PcrH chaperone has no regulatory effect in native Pseudomonas aeruginosa or when produced in Yersinia. In this study, we used LcrH-PcrH chaperone hybrids to identify a discrete region in the N terminus of LcrH that is necessary for YscY binding and regulatory control of the Yersinia type III secretion machinery. PcrH was unable to bind YscY and the homologue Pcr4 of P. aeruginosa. YscY and Pcr4 were both essential for type III secretion and reciprocally bound to both substrates YscX of Yersinia and Pcr3 of P. aeruginosa. Still, Pcr4 was unable to complement a DeltayscY null mutant defective for type III secretion and yop-regulatory control in Yersinia, despite the ability of YscY to function in P. aeruginosa. Taken together, we conclude that the cross-talk between the LcrH and YscY components represents a strategic regulatory pathway specific to Yersinia type III secretion.

The type III cytotoxins of Yersinia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa that modulate the actin cytoskeleton

Initial studies of how bacterial toxins modulate the actin cytoskeleton have focused primarily on the mode of action of these toxins. More recently, studies have addressed the molecular interactions of these toxins with host cell signaling pathways and how toxins modulate cellular physiology. Although each individual toxin has a unique mode of action, general themes have started to emerge between bacterial pathogens. During the course of an infection, many pathogenic bacteria produce toxins that target the actin cytoskeleton and its regulatory proteins. Toxins can either act as positive regulators promoting the assembly of filamentous actin structures or, alternatively, as negative regulators promoting actin filament disassembly. Modulation of the actin cytoskeleton facilitates various infectious processes critical for the success of the pathogen. Intracellular bacteria such as Salmonella typhimurium utilize toxins to promote both assembly and disassembly of the actin cytoskeleton during the infection process. Temporal regulation of toxin activities results in internalization of the bacterium by epithelial cells into specialized vacuoles permissive for growth. In contrast, Yersinia utilizes actin modulating toxins to block internalization by professional antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells. Modulation of the immune response through the production of actin-regulating toxins appears to be a common approach adopted by several extracellular pathogens. Thus the repertoire of actin-modifying toxins produced by various species is specifically tailored to facilitate the lifestyle of the pathogen. The presence of multiple toxins that modulate the activation state of actin shows the importance of interfering with the cytoskeleton to neutralize the host's innate immune system for the survival and growth of Yersinia and P. aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoS and ExoT

ExoS and ExoT are bi-functional type-III cytotoxins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that share 76% primary amino acid homology and contain N-terminal RhoGAP domains and C-terminal ADP-ribosylation domains. The Rho GAP activities of ExoS and ExoT appear to be biochemically and biologically identical, targeting Rho, Rac, and Cdc42. Expression of the RhoGAP domain in mammalian cells results in the disruption of the actin cytoskeleton and interference of phagocytosis. Expression of the ADP-ribosyltransferase domain of ExoS elicits a cytotoxic phenotype in cultured cells, while expression of ExoT appears to interfere with host cell phagocytic activity. Recent studies showed that ExoS and ExoT ADP-ribosylate different substrates. While ExoS has poly-substrate specificity and can ADP-ribosylate numerous host proteins, ExoT ADP-ribosylates a more restricted subset of host proteins including the Crk proteins. Protein modeling predicts that electrostatic interactions contribute to the substrate specificity of the ADP-ribosyltransferase domains of ExoS and ExoT.

How bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxins recognize substrates

ExoS and ExoT are bifunctional type III cytotoxins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that contain an N-terminal RhoGAP domain and a C-terminal ADP-ribosylation domain. Although they share 76% amino acid identity, ExoS and ExoT ADP-ribosylate different substrates. Using protein modeling and site-directed mutagenesis, the regions of ExoS and ExoT that define substrate specificity were determined. Regions B (active site loop), C (ARTT motif) and E (PN loop) on ExoS are necessary and sufficient to recognize ExoS targets, whereas regions B, C and E on ExoT are necessary but not sufficient to recognize ExoT targets, such as the Crk proteins. A specific Crk recognition motif on ExoT was defined as region A (helix alpha1). The electrostatic properties of regions A, B, C and E define the substrate specificity of ExoS and ExoT and these interactions can explain how other bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxins recognize their unique substrates.

The YopD translocator of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is a multifunctional protein comprised of discrete domains

To establish an infection, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis utilizes a plasmid-encoded type III translocon to microinject several anti-host Yop effectors into the cytosol of target eukaryotic cells. YopD has been implicated in several key steps during Yop effector translocation, including maintenance of yop regulatory control and pore formation in the target cell membrane through which effectors traverse. These functions are mediated, in part, by an interaction with the cognate chaperone, LcrH. To gain insight into the complex molecular mechanisms of YopD function, we performed a systematic mutagenesis study to search for discrete functional domains. We highlighted amino acids beyond the first three N-terminal residues that are dispensable for YopD secretion and confirmed that an interaction between YopD and LcrH is essential for maintenance of yop regulatory control. In addition, discrete domains within YopD that are essential for both pore formation and translocation of Yop effectors were identified. Significantly, other domains were found to be important for effector microinjection but not for pore formation. Therefore, YopD is clearly essential for several discrete steps during efficient Yop effector translocation. Recognition of this modular YopD domain structure provides important insights into the function of YopD.

Dissection of homologous translocon operons reveals a distinct role for YopD in type III secretion by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

The homologous pcrGVHpopBD and lcrGVHyopBD translocase operons of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and pathogenic Yersinia spp., respectively, are responsible for the translocation of anti-host effectors into the cytosol of infected eukaryotic cells. In Yersinia, this operon is also required for yop-regulatory control. To probe for key molecular interactions during the infection process, the functional interchangeability of popB/yopB and popD/yopD was investigated. Secretion of PopB produced in trans in a deltayopB null mutant of Yersinia was only observed when co-produced with its native chaperone PcrH, but this was sufficient to complement the yopB translocation defect. The Yersinia deltayopD null mutant synthesized and secreted PopD even in the absence of native PcrH, yet this did not restore YopD-dependent yop-regulatory control or effector translocation. Thus, this suggests that key residues in YopD, which are not conserved in PopD, are essential for functional Yersinia type III secretion.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoT ADP-ribosylates CT10 regulator of kinase (Crk) proteins

Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoT is a type III cytotoxin that functions as an anti-internalization factor with an N-terminal RhoGAP domain and a C-terminal ADP-ribosyltransferase domain. Although ExoT RhoGAP stimulates actin reorganization through the inactivation of Rho, Rac, and Cdc42, the function of the ADP-ribosylation domain is unknown. The present study characterized the mammalian proteins that are ADP-ribosylated by ExoT, using two-dimensional SDS-PAGE and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time of flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis. ExoT ADP-ribosylated two cytosolic proteins in cell lysates upon type III delivery into cultured HeLa cells. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis identified the two proteins as Crk-I and Crk-II that are Src homology 2-3 domains containing adaptor proteins, which mediate signal pathways involving focal adhesion and phagocytosis. ExoT ADP-ribosylated recombinant Crk-I at a rate similar to the ADP-ribosylation of soybean trypsin inhibitor by ExoS. ExoS did not ADP-ribosylate Crk-I. ADP-ribosylation of Crk-I may be responsible for the anti-phagocytosis phenotype elicited by ExoT in mammalian cells.

Common infection strategies of plant and animal pathogenic bacteria

Gram-negative bacterial pathogens use common strategies to invade and colonize plant and animal hosts. In many species, pathogenicity depends on a highly conserved type-III protein secretion system that delivers effector proteins into the eukaryotic cell. Effector proteins modulate a variety of host cellular pathways, such as rearrangements of the cytoskeleton and defense responses. The specific set of effectors varies in different bacterial species, but recent studies have revealed structural and functional parallels between some effector proteins from plant and animal pathogenic bacteria. These findings suggest that bacterial pathogens target similar pathways in plant and animal host cells.

Type IV pili are not specifically required for contact dependent translocation of exoenzymes by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The type III secretion system (TTSS) of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa enables the bacterium to deliver exoenzymes directly into the eukaryotic cell. In this study we have investigated the role of key factors involved in this process. We could demonstrate that the translocators PopB, PopD and PcrV are absolutely required for delivery of Exoenzyme S into host cells. By analyzing different Tfp (type IV pili) mutants we could establish a correlation between the frequency of bacteria binding to the host cell and the levels of translocated ExoS, thereby verifying that the process is contact dependent. However, there was no absolute requirement for the Tfp per se, since the pilus could be substituted with a different type of adhesin, the non-fimbrial adhesin pH6 antigen of Yersinia pestis. Taken together, our results demonstrate that binding to establish close contact between the type III secretion organelle and the host cell is essential for translocation, while the additional activities of Tfp are not essential for the delivery of TTSS proteins.

Exoenzyme S shows selective ADP-ribosylation and GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activities towards small GTPases in vivo

Intracellular targeting of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa toxins exoenzyme S (ExoS) and exoenzyme T (ExoT) initially results in disruption of the actin microfilament structure of eukaryotic cells. ExoS and ExoT are bifunctional cytotoxins, with N-terminal GTPase-activating protein (GAP) and C-terminal ADP-ribosyltransferase activities. We show that ExoS can modify multiple GTPases of the Ras superfamily in vivo. In contrast, ExoT shows no ADP-ribosylation activity towards any of the GTPases tested in vivo. We further examined ExoS targets in vivo and observed that ExoS modulates the activity of several of these small GTP-binding proteins, such as Ras, Rap1, Rap2, Ral, Rac1, RhoA and Cdc42. We suggest that ExoS is the major ADP-ribosyltransferase protein modulating small GTPase function encoded by P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, we show that the GAP activity of ExoS abrogates the activation of RhoA, Cdc42 and Rap1.

A nonphosphorylated 14-3-3 binding motif on exoenzyme S that is functional in vivo

14-3-3 proteins play an important role in a multitude of signalling pathways. The interactions between 14-3-3 and other signalling proteins, such as Raf and KSR (kinase suppressor of Ras), occur in a phospho-specific manner. Recently, a phosphorylation-independent interaction has been reported to occur between 14-3-3 and several proteins, for example 5-phosphatase, p75NTR-associated cell death executor (NADE) and the bacterial toxin Exoenzyme S (ExoS), an ADP-ribosyltransferase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this study we have identified the amino acid residues on ExoS, which are responsible for its specific interaction with 14-3-3. Furthermore, we show that a peptide derived from ExoS, containing the 14-3-3 interaction site, effectively competes out the interaction between ExoS and 14-3-3. In addition, competition with this peptide blocks ExoS modification of Ras in our Ras modification assay. We show that the ExoS protein interacts with all isoforms of the 14-3-3 family tested. Moreover, in vivo an ExoS protein lacking the 14-3-3 binding site has a reduced capacity to ADP ribosylate cytoplasmic proteins, e.g. Ras, and shows a reduced capacity to change the morphology of infected cells.

Auto-ADP-ribosylation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoS

Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exoenzyme S (ExoS) is a bifunctional type-III cytotoxin. The N terminus possesses a Rho GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity, whereas the C terminus comprises an ADP-ribosyltransferase domain. We investigated whether the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of ExoS influences its GAP activity. Although the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of ExoS is dependent upon FAS, a 14-3-3 family protein, factor-activating ExoS (FAS) had no influence on the activity of the GAP domain of ExoS (ExoS-GAP). In the presence of NAD and FAS, the GAP activity of full-length ExoS was reduced about 10-fold, whereas NAD and FAS did not affect the activity of the ExoS-GAP fragment. Using [(32)P]NAD, ExoS-GAP was identified as a substrate of the ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of ExoS. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that auto-ADP-ribosylation of Arg-146 of ExoS was crucial for inhibition of GAP activity in vitro. To reveal the auto-ADP-ribosylation of ExoS in intact cells, tetanolysin was used to produce pores in the plasma membrane of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to allow the intracellular entry of [(32)P]NAD, the substrate for ADP-ribosylation. After a 3-h infection of CHO cells with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, proteins of 50 and 25 kDa were preferentially ADP-ribosylated. The 50-kDa protein was determined to be auto-ADP-ribosylated ExoS, whereas the 25-kDa protein appeared to represent a group of proteins that included Ras.