Identification of TyeA residues required to interact with YopN and to regulate Yop secretion

The secretion of Yops via the Yersinia type III secretion system (T3SS) is controlled, in part, by a cytoplasmic YopN/TyeA complex. This complex is required to prevent Yop secretion in the presence of extracellular calcium and prior to contact between the bacterium and a eukaryotic cell. In this study we utilized site-directed mutagenesis to analyze the role of specific TyeA regions and residues in the regulation of Yop secretion. We identified two spatially distinct, surface-exposed regions of the TyeA molecule that were required to regulate Yop secretion. One region, identified by residues M51, F55 and P56, was required for TyeA to interact with YopN. A second region, identified by residues R19, W20 and D25 was not involved in the interaction of TyeA with YopN, but may be required for the YopN/TyeA complex to interact with the T3S apparatus in a manner that blocks Yop secretion.