The mycobacterial phosphatase PtpA regulates the expression of host genes and promotes cell proliferation

Jing Wang1, Pupu Ge1,2, Lihua Qiang1,3

  • 1CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.

Nature Communications
|August 17, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Mycobacterium tuberculosis PtpA protein suppresses host immunity by dephosphorylating cytoplasmic proteins. It also enters the nucleus, altering gene expression and promoting cancer cell proliferation and migration.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis secretes PtpA, an effector protein.
  • PtpA dephosphorylates host cytoplasmic proteins, suppressing innate immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate PtpA's nuclear functions.
  • Determine PtpA's role in host gene expression and cell behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Studied PtpA's localization within host cells.
  • Analyzed PtpA's effect on host gene expression.
  • Assessed PtpA's impact on cell proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo.

Main Results:

  • PtpA enters the host cell nucleus.
  • PtpA regulates host gene expression, including GADD45A.
  • PtpA binds to the GADD45A promoter.
  • PtpA promotes cancer cell proliferation and migration.

Conclusions:

  • PtpA possesses nuclear functions beyond cytoplasmic dephosphorylation.
  • Both phosphatase activity and DNA-binding are crucial for PtpA's immune suppression.
  • PtpA may influence cell proliferation and migration, with potential implications for human diseases.

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