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Chlamydia pneumoniae effector chlamydial outer protein N sequesters fructose bisphosphate aldolase A, providing a

Kasumi Ishida1,2, Junji Matsuo3, Yoshimasa Yamamoto4,5,6

  • 1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0812, Japan. kasumi_ishida@ec.hokudai.ac.jp.

BMC Microbiology
|December 22, 2014
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Chlamydia pneumoniae uses its CopN protein to target the host glycolytic enzyme aldolase A. This interaction benefits bacterial growth within infected human cells, impacting disease progression.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Pathogenic chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria causing human diseases like pneumonia and STDs.
  • Chlamydial outer protein N (CopN) is a type III secretion system effector protein involved in host cell manipulation.
  • The precise mechanisms of CopN's action and its host targets remain largely unelucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel host cell targets of the Chlamydia pneumoniae CopN effector protein.
  • To elucidate the functional role of identified targets in the context of chlamydial infection.

Main Methods:

  • Affinity pull-down assays using recombinant CopN proteins from Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis.
  • Mass spectrometry (MS) for host protein identification.
  • Gene knockdown using siRNA and assessment of chlamydial growth and gene expression in infected host cells.

Main Results:

  • A specific host protein, fructose bisphosphate aldolase A (aldolase A), was identified as a binding partner for Chlamydia pneumoniae CopN.
  • Knockdown of aldolase A in HEp-2 cells led to increased chlamydial inclusion-forming units and RpoD transcripts.
  • Chlamydial infection demonstrated a trend towards enhanced aldolase A expression.

Conclusions:

  • Fructose bisphosphate aldolase A is a direct target of Chlamydia pneumoniae CopN.
  • CopN-mediated sequestration of aldolase A likely promotes chlamydial replication within host cells.
  • Targeting host glycolytic enzymes represents a strategy employed by Chlamydia pneumoniae for successful infection.

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