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Yersinia enterocolitica outer protein T (YopT)
1Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Albert-Str. 25, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. Gudula.Schmidt@pharmakol.uni-freiburg.de
European Journal of Cell Biology
|January 25, 2011
Summary
Pathogenic Yersinia bacteria use Yersinia outer proteins (Yops) to suppress host immunity. The YopT effector protein inactivates host Rho GTPases by cleaving them, disrupting the actin cytoskeleton and aiding bacterial infection.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Pathogenic Yersinia strains employ type III secretion systems (TTSS) to inject effector proteins, known as Yersinia outer proteins (Yops), into host cells.
- These Yops are crucial for evading innate immune responses during infection.
- YopT is one such effector protein with a significant role in host cell manipulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the molecular mechanisms by which YopT disrupts the host cell actin cytoskeleton.
- To elucidate the biochemical properties, substrate specificity, and delivery of YopT.
- To summarize the patho-physiological significance of YopT in Yersinia infections.
Main Methods:
- Biochemical characterization of YopT's enzymatic activity.
- Analysis of YopT substrate specificity, focusing on Rho GTPases.
- Investigation of YopT delivery into host cells, including chaperone interactions.
- Review of existing literature on YopT's role in Yersinia pathogenesis.
Main Results:
- YopT functions as a cysteine protease, cleaving Rho proteins upstream of their modified cysteine residue.
- This cleavage releases Rho GTPases from the cell membrane, leading to their inactivation.
- YopT's action results in the disruption of the host cell actin cytoskeleton.
- Chaperone binding and guidance mechanisms facilitate YopT delivery via the TTSS.
Conclusions:
- YopT is a key virulence factor for pathogenic Yersinia, contributing to immune evasion by targeting host Rho GTPases.
- Understanding YopT's mechanism provides insights into bacterial pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions.
- Targeting YopT or its delivery system could represent a strategy for combating Yersinia infections.
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