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Bacterial virulence in the moonlight: multitasking bacterial moonlighting proteins are virulence determinants in

Brian Henderson1, Andrew Martin

  • 1Department of Microbial Diseases, UCL-Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, United Kingdom. b.henderson@eastman.ucl.ac.uk

Infection and Immunity
|June 8, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Proteins can perform multiple functions, a phenomenon called protein moonlighting. This review explores how bacterial moonlighting proteins contribute to the virulence of human pathogens.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Proteins are known to perform specific functions within cells.
  • The concept of protein moonlighting, where a single protein has multiple distinct functions, is gaining recognition.
  • Many conserved proteins involved in essential cellular processes also play roles in bacterial virulence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the diverse roles of bacterial proteins, known as protein moonlighting.
  • To highlight the contribution of these moonlighting activities to the virulence of significant human pathogens.
  • To examine specific examples of moonlighting proteins in key bacterial species.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific articles on protein moonlighting in bacteria.
  • Analysis of conserved bacterial proteins with known metabolic or stress response functions.
  • Correlation of moonlighting protein activities with virulence factors in pathogenic bacteria.

Main Results:

  • Identified numerous bacterial proteins, including metabolic enzymes and molecular chaperones, that exhibit moonlighting functions.
  • Demonstrated that these additional protein functions are often linked to bacterial pathogenesis.
  • Highlighted the involvement of moonlighting proteins in the virulence of pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Helicobacter pylori.

Conclusions:

  • Protein moonlighting is a widespread phenomenon in bacteria.
  • Moonlighting proteins significantly contribute to bacterial virulence and pathogenesis.
  • Understanding protein moonlighting offers potential targets for novel antimicrobial strategies.

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