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Tyrosine-modifying glycosylation by Yersinia effectors

Silvia Schneider1, Christophe Wirth2, Thomas Jank1

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|May 4, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Two Yersinia glycosyltransferases, YeGT and YkGT, modify host Rho proteins by adding GlcNAc to tyrosine residues. YkGT shows a broader substrate specificity than YeGT, impacting host cell functions.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Bacterial glycosyltransferases are key virulence factors that modify host proteins.
  • Mono-O-glycosylation by toxins interferes with host cell functions.
  • Yersinia species possess glycosyltransferases with high sequence identity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize two Yersinia glycosyltransferases, YeGT and YkGT.
  • To investigate their substrate specificity and structural properties.
  • To understand their role in host cell modification and virulence.

Main Methods:

  • Sequence analysis and comparison of YeGT and YkGT.
  • Enzymatic assays to determine substrate specificity (Rho family proteins).
  • Site-directed mutagenesis to identify key residues (e.g., residue 177).
  • Crystal structure determination of a truncated YeGT (sYeGT).
  • Functional assays using anthrax toxin for protein translocation and cell imaging.

Main Results:

  • YeGT and YkGT glycosylate Rho family proteins at tyrosine residues (Tyr-34 in RhoA) with GlcNAc.
  • YeGT targets RhoA, B, and C, while YkGT has a broader spectrum, including Rac and Cdc42.
  • Residue 177 is crucial for YkGT's broader substrate specificity.
  • The crystal structure of sYeGT places it in the GT-A family, similar to toxin glycosyltransferases.
  • The N-terminal 16 residues are essential for translocation into host cells.
  • Expression of YeGT/YkGT induces host cell morphological changes and actin cytoskeleton alterations.

Conclusions:

  • YeGT and YkGT are bacterial effector proteins belonging to the tyrosine glycosylating bacterial glycosyltransferases family.
  • Their glycosylation activity and translocation mechanisms contribute to Yersinia virulence.
  • Structural and functional similarities to known toxins highlight convergent evolution in bacterial pathogenesis.
Keywords:
Clostridioides difficilePhotorhabdus asymbiotica toxinRho GTPasesYersinia enterocoliticaYersinia kristenseniiYersinia ruckeriglycosyltransferasetoxintyrosine glycosylation

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