YscN, the putative energizer of the Yersinia Yop secretion machinery.

Pathogenic yersiniae secrete a set of 11 antihost proteins called Yops. Yop secretion appears as the archetype of the type III secretion pathway. Several components of this machinery are encoded by the virA (lcrA) and virC (lcrC) loci of the 70-kb pYV plasmid. In this paper, we describe yscN, another gene involved in this pathway. It is the first gene of the virB locus. It encodes a 47.8-kDa protein similar to the catalytic subunits of F0F1 and related ATPases, as well as to products of other genes presumed to be involved in a type III secretion pathway. YscN contains the two consensus nucleotide-binding motifs (boxes A and B) described by Walker et al. (J. E. Walker, M. Saraste, M. J. Runswick, and N. J. Gay, EMBO J. 1:945-951, 1982). We engineered a pYV mutant encoding a modified YscN protein lacking box A. This mutant, impaired in Yop secretion, can be complemented in trans by a cloned yscN gene. We conclude that YscN is a component of the Yop secretion machinery using ATP. We hypothesize that it is either the energizer of this machinery or a part of it.     

Mutational analysis of the Yersinia enterocolitica virC operon: characterization of yscE, F, G, I, J, K required for Yop secretion and yscH encoding YopR

Pathogenic yersiniae secrete the Yop anti-host proteins using a type-III secretion pathway. The components of the secretion machinery are encoded by three loci on the pYV plasmid: virA, virB, and virC . In this paper we describe the characterization of eight non-polar mutants of the virC locus, constructed by allelic exchange. The yscE, FG, I, J and K mutants were defective in Yop secretion and independent of Ca²⁺ (Cl) for their growth at 37°C. Substitution of the 12 N-terminal amino-acid residues of YscF impaired secretion of YopB and YopD only and led also to a Cl phenotype. The culture supernatant of the yscH mutant contained all the Yops except the 18 kDa YopR. Complementation experiments and an immunoblot analysis confirmed that YopR is encoded by the yscH gene. The LD₅₀ for the mouse of the yscH mutant was 10-fold higher than that of the parental strain indicating that YopR is involved in pathogenesis. The phenotype of the yscM mutant was similar to that of the wild-type strain. However, overproduction of YscM from a multicopy plasmid in wild-type Yersinia enterocolitica prevented Yop secretion and synthesis. A hybrid YopH—LacZ' protein, encoded by a gene transcribed from the lac promoter, was secreted by a strain overexpressing YscM, showing that the secretion machinery was still functional. These results indicate that YscM plays a role in the feedback inhibition of Yop synthesis when secretion is compromised by acting as a negative regulator of Yop synthesis.     

YscU recognizes translocators as export substrates of the Yersinia injectisome

YscU is an essential component of the export apparatus of the Yersinia injectisome. It consists of an N-terminal transmembrane domain and a long cytoplasmic C-terminal domain, which undergoes auto-cleavage at a NPTH site. Substitutions N263A and P264A prevented cleavage of YscU and abolished export of LcrV, YopB and YopD but not of Yop effectors. As a consequence, yscU(N263A) mutant bacteria made needles without the LcrV tip complex and they could not form translocation pores. The graft of the export signal of the effector YopE, at the N-terminus of LcrV, restored LcrV export and assembly of the tip complex. Thus, YscU cleavage is required to acquire the conformation allowing recognition of translocators, which represent an individual category of substrates in the hierarchy of export. In addition, yscU(N263A) mutant bacteria exported reduced amounts of the YscP ruler and made longer needles. Increasing YscP export resulted in needles with normal size, depending on the length of the ruler. Hence, the effect of the yscU(N263A) mutation on needle length was the consequence of a reduced YscP export.     

The lcrB (yscN/U) gene cluster of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is involved in Yop secretion and shows high homology to the spa gene clusters of Shigella flexneri and Salmonella typhimurium.

Virulent bacteria of the genus Yersinia secrete a number of virulence determinants called Yops. These proteins lack typical signal sequences and are not posttranslationally processed. Two gene loci have been identified as being involved in the specific Yop secretion system (G. Cornelis, p. 231-265, In C. E. Hormache, C. W. Penn, and C. J. Smythe, ed., Molecular Biology of Bacterial Infection, 1992; S. C. Straley, G. V. Plano, E. Skrzypek, P. L. Haddix, and K. A. Fields, Mol. Microbiol. 8:1005-1010, 1993). Here, we have shown that the lcrB/virB locus (yscN to yscU) encodes gene products essential for Yop secretion. As in previously described secretion apparatus mutants, expression of the Yop proteins was decreased in the yscN/U mutants. An lcrH yscR double mutant expressed the Yops at an increased level but did not secrete Yops into the culture supernatant. The block in Yop expression of the ysc mutants was also circumvented by overexpression of the activator LcrF in trans. Although the Yops were expressed in elevated amounts, the Yops were still not exported. This analysis showed that the ysc mutants were unable to secrete Yops and that they were also affected in the negative Ca(2+)-regulated loop. The yscN/U genes showed remarkably high homology to the spa genes of Shigella flexneri and Salmonella typhimurium with respect to both individual genes and gene organization. These findings indicate that the genes originated from a common ancestor.     

Proteolytic cleavage of the FlhB homologue YscU of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is essential for bacterial survival but not for type III secretion

Pathogenic Yersinia species employ a type III secretion system (TTSS) to target antihost factors, Yop proteins, into eukaryotic cells. The secretion machinery is constituted of ca. 20 Ysc proteins, nine of which show significant homology to components of the flagellar TTSS. A key event in flagellar assembly is the switch from secreting-assembling hook substrates to filament substrates, a switch regulated by FlhB and FliK. The focus of this study is the FlhB homologue YscU, a bacterial inner membrane protein with a large cytoplasmic C-terminal domain. Our results demonstrate that low levels of YscU were required for functional Yop secretion, whereas higher levels of YscU lowered both Yop secretion and expression. Like FlhB, YscU was cleaved into a 30-kDa N-terminal and a 10-kDa C-terminal part. Expression of the latter in a wild-type strain resulted in elevated Yop secretion. The site of cleavage was at a proline residue, within the strictly conserved amino acid sequence NPTH. A YscU protein with an in-frame deletion of NPTH was cleaved at a different position and was nonfunctional with respect to Yop secretion. Variants of YscU with single substitutions in the conserved NPTH sequence--i.e., N263A, P264A, or T265A--were not cleaved but retained function in Yop secretion. Elevated expression of these YscU variants did, however, result in severe growth inhibition. From this we conclude that YscU cleavage is not a prerequisite for Yop secretion but is rather required to maintain a nontoxic fold.     

LcrF is the temperature-regulated activator of the yadA gene of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.

The virulence plasmid of human pathogenic Yersinia species, pYV, encodes secreted proteins, Yop proteins, and an outer membrane protein, YadA. YadA has been associated with binding to a variety of substrates and with interference with host defense. YadA is regulated by temperature and is expressed only at 37 degrees C. Unlike the yop regulon, the yadA gene is not under Ca2+ regulation. Here, we show that LcrF (VirF), the temperature-regulated activator of the yop regulon, also acts as an activator for yadA.     

The Yersinia enterocolitica pYV Virulence Plasmid Contains Multiple Intrinsic DNA Bends Which Melt at 37°C

Temperature has a pleiotropic effect on Yersinia enterocolitica gene expression. Temperature-dependent phenotypes include the switching between two type III protein secretion systems, flagellum biosynthesis (相似文献   

YscP and YscU switch the substrate specificity of the Yersinia type III secretion system by regulating export of the inner rod protein YscI

Pathogenic yersiniae utilize a type III secretion system to inject antihost factors, called Yops, directly into the cytosol of eukaryotic cells. The Yops are injected via a needle-like structure, comprising the YscF protein, on the bacterial surface. While the needle is being assembled, Yops cannot be secreted. YscP and YscU switch the substrate specificity of the secretion system to enable Yop export once the needle attains its proper length. Here, we demonstrate that the inner rod protein YscI plays a critical role in substrate specificity switching. We show that YscI is secreted by the type III secretion system and that YscI secretion by a yscP mutant is abnormally elevated. Furthermore, we show that mutations in the cytoplasmic domain of YscU reduce YscI secretion by the yscP null strain. We also demonstrate that mutants expressing one of three forms of YscI (those with mutations Q84A, L87A, and L96A) secrete substantial amounts of Yops yet exhibit severe defects in needle formation. In the absence of YscP, mutants with the same changes in YscI assemble needles but are unable to secrete Yops. Together, these results suggest that the formation of the inner rod, not the needle, is critical for substrate specificity switching and that YscP and YscU exert their effects on substrate export by controlling the secretion of YscI.     

YscP and YscU regulate substrate specificity of the Yersinia type III secretion system

Pathogenic Yersinia species use a type III secretion system to inhibit phagocytosis by eukaryotic cells. At 37 degrees C, the secretion system is assembled, forming a needle-like structure on the bacterial cell surface. Upon eukaryotic cell contact, six effector proteins, called Yops, are translocated into the eukaryotic cell cytosol. Here, we show that a yscP mutant exports an increased amount of the needle component YscF to the bacterial cell surface but is unable to efficiently secrete effector Yops. Mutations in the cytoplasmic domain of the inner membrane protein YscU suppress the yscP phenotype by reducing the level of YscF secretion and increasing the level of Yop secretion. These results suggest that YscP and YscU coordinately regulate the substrate specificity of the Yersinia type III secretion system. Furthermore, we show that YscP and YscU act upstream of the cell contact sensor YopN as well as the inner gatekeeper LcrG in the pathway of substrate export regulation. These results further strengthen the strong evolutionary link between flagellar biosynthesis and type III synthesis.     

YscU cleavage and the assembly of Yersinia type III secretion machine complexes

YscU, a component of the Yersinia type III secretion machine, promotes auto-cleavage at asparagine 263 (N263). Mutants with an alanine substitution at yscU codon 263 displayed secretion defects for some substrates (LcrV, YopB and YopD); however, transport of effector proteins into host cells (YopE, YopH, YopM) continued to occur. Two yscU mutations were isolated that, unlike N263A , completely abolished type III secretion; YscU_G127D promoted auto-cleavage at N263, whereas YscU_G270N did not. When fused to glutathione S-transferase (Gst), the YscU C-terminal cytoplasmic domain promoted auto-cleavage and Gst-YscU_C also exerted a dominant-negative phenotype by blocking type III secretion. Gst–YscU_C/N263A caused a similar blockade and Gst–YscU_C/G270N reduced secretion. Gst–YscU_C and Gst–YscU_C/N263A bound YscL, the regulator of the ATPase YscN, whereas Gst–YscU_C/G270N did not. When isolated from Yersinia , Gst–YscU_C and Gst–YscU_C/N263A associated with YscK–YscL–YscQ; however, Gst–YscU_C/G270N interacted predominantly with the machine component YscO, but not with YscK–YscL–YscQ. A model is proposed whereby YscU auto-cleavage promotes interaction with YscL and recruitment of ATPase complexes that initiate type III secretion.     

The fliA gene encoding sigma 28 in Yersinia enterocolitica.

Yersinia enterocolitica is an enterobacterium responsible for gastrointestinal syndromes. Its pathogenicity depends on the presence of the 70-kb pYV plasmid, which directs Yop secretion. The Yop secretion machinery, consisting of the YscA-U and LcrD proteins, presents some structural similarity with the flagellum assembly machinery characterized in other bacteria. Flagellum assembly requires sigma 28, an alternative sigma factor. The region upstream of the lcrD gene resembles promoters recognized by sigma 28, suggesting that the similarity between Yop secretion and flagellum assembly could extend to their regulation. The chromosome of Y. enterocolitica also contains pathogenicity determinants such as myfA, which encodes the Myf antigen subunit. The promoter region of myfA also resembles promoters recognized by sigma 28. In an attempt to clarify the role of sigma 28 in the expression of lcrD, myfA, and flagellar genes, we cloned, sequenced, and mutagenized the fliA gene encoding the sigma 28 homolog in Y. enterocolitica. As is the case in other bacteria, fliA was required for motility. However, it was involved neither in fibrilla synthesis nor in Yop secretion. The fliA mutant allowed us to monitor the role of motility in pathogenesis. At least in the mouse model, motility seemed not to be required for Y. enterocolitica pathogenesis.     

Erwinia amylovora secretes harpin via a type III pathway and contains a homolog of yopN of Yersinia spp.

Type III secretion functions in flagellar biosynthesis and in export of virulence factors from several animal pathogens, and for plant pathogens, it has been shown to be involved in the export of elicitors of the hypersensitive reaction. Typified by the Yop delivery system of Yersinia spp., type III secretion is sec independent and requires multiple components. Sequence analysis of an 11.5-kb region of the hrp gene cluster of Erwinia amylovora containing hrpI, a previously characterized type III gene, revealed a group of eight or more type III genes corresponding to the virB or lcrB (yscN-to-yscU) locus of Yersinia spp. A homolog of another Yop secretion gene, yscD, was found between hrpI and this group downstream. Immediately upstream of hrpI, a homolog of yopN was discovered. yopN is a putative sensor involved in host-cell-contact-triggered expression and transfer of protein, e.g., YopE, to the host cytoplasm. In-frame deletion mutagenesis of one of the type III genes, designated hrcT, was nonpolar and resulted in a Hrp- strain that produced but did not secrete harpin, an elicitor of the hypersensitive reaction that is also required for pathogenesis. Cladistic analysis of the HrpI (herein renamed HrcV) or LcrD protein family revealed two distinct groups for plant pathogens. The Yersinia protein grouped more closely with the plant pathogen homologs than with homologs from other animal pathogens; flagellar biosynthesis proteins grouped distinctly. A possible evolutionary history of type III secretion is presented, and the potential significance of the similarity between the harpin and Yop export systems is discussed, particularly with respect to a potential role for the YopN homolog in pathogenesis of plants.     

Y. enterocolitica inhibits antigen degradation in dendritic cells

Yersinia enterocolitica (Ye) disrupts the ability of dendritic cells (DC) to prime CD4+ T cells suggesting that Ye may subvert uptake and/or processing of soluble antigens (Ag). To investigate this Ye-infected DC were loaded with fluorescently labelled ovalbumins as markers for Ag uptake and processing, and analysed by flow cytometry, fluorometry and microscopy. Wild type pYV+ as well as plasmidless pYV(-) bacteria inhibited Ag degradation in DC by 40% compared to non-infected cells. Microscopic analyses of pYV(-)-infected DC revealed that 40% of DC contained intracellular bacteria, and that DC without intracellular bacteria had degraded more Ag. When internalization of pYV(-) was blocked by cytochalasin D, Ag degradation was no longer inhibited indicating the competition between degradation of bacteria and ovalbumin. In contrast, cytochalasin D pre-treated DC infected with pYV+ inhibited Ag degradation by a mechanism dependent on the presence of virulence plasmid pYV encoding YopE, YopH, YopM, YopP, YopT and YopO. As no single Yop inhibited Ag degradation, interaction of multiple Yops might account for this effect, possibly by inhibiting Rho GTPases, because of a significant decrease of Ag degradation observed in DC incubated with toxin B of C. difficile. However, the contribution of other pYV-encoded factors cannot be excluded.     

一种基于NanoLuc荧光素酶报告布鲁菌基因启动子活性质粒的构建及应用

[背景]布鲁菌病是由布鲁菌感染引起的一种人兽共患传染病,对畜牧业发展和人类健康有着巨大的威胁。利用新型报告基因NanoLuc荧光素酶构建一种可以检测布鲁菌基因启动子活性的质粒,对于研究布鲁菌毒力基因的调控表达具有重要意义。[目的]制备NanoLuc荧光素酶多克隆抗体,构建一种基于NanoLuc荧光素酶报告布鲁菌基因启动子活性的质粒,并通过测定bcsp31基因启动子和virB启动子活性验证该方法的可行性。[方法]构建NanoLuc荧光素酶原核表达载体pET-Nluc,纯化蛋白免疫新西兰大白兔制备多克隆抗体;以广宿主质粒pBBR1MCS为骨架,构建质粒pNluc、pBcsp31-Nluc和pVirB-Nluc,通过电转化构建S2308(Nluc)、S2308(Bcsp31-Nluc)和S2308(VirB-Nluc)重组菌株,在体外培养条件下测定bcsp31基因启动子和virB启动子活性;比较分析virB启动子在胞内感染条件下和体外培养条件下的活性。[结果]通过原核表达获得NanoLuc荧光素酶重组蛋白,并制备得到效价高于1:100 000的多克隆抗体;成功构建pNluc、pBcsp31-Nluc和pVirB-Nluc质粒以及S2308(Nluc)、S2308(Bcsp31-Nluc)和S2308(VirB-Nluc)重组菌株;体外培养条件下测定bcsp31基因启动子和virB启动子活性,结果显示pNluc质粒可以精确报告其活性;测定virB启动子在胞内诱导条件下和体外培养条件下的活性,结果显示virB启动子活性在胞内感染条件下明显增强。[结论]构建了基于NanoLuc荧光素酶报告布鲁菌基因启动子活性的质粒,并验证其可以精确反映布鲁菌基因启动子活性,为研究布鲁菌毒力基因以及揭示其致病机制奠定了基础。     

Autoproteolysis and Intramolecular Dissociation of Yersinia YscU Precedes Secretion of Its C-Terminal Polypeptide YscUCC

Type III secretion system mediated secretion and translocation of Yop-effector proteins across the eukaryotic target cell membrane by pathogenic Yersinia is highly organized and is dependent on a switching event from secretion of early structural substrates to late effector substrates (Yops). Substrate switching can be mimicked in vitro by modulating the calcium levels in the growth medium. YscU that is essential for regulation of this switch undergoes autoproteolysis at a conserved N↑PTH motif, resulting in a 10 kDa C-terminal polypeptide fragment denoted YscU_CC. Here we show that depletion of calcium induces intramolecular dissociation of YscU_CC from YscU followed by secretion of the YscU_CC polypeptide. Thus, YscU_CC behaved in vivo as a Yop protein with respect to secretion properties. Further, destabilized yscU mutants displayed increased rates of dissociation of YscU_CC in vitro resulting in enhanced Yop secretion in vivo at 30°C relative to the wild-type strain.These findings provide strong support to the relevance of YscU_CC dissociation for Yop secretion. We propose that YscU_CC orchestrates a block in the secretion channel that is eliminated by calcium depletion. Further, the striking homology between different members of the YscU/FlhB family suggests that this protein family possess regulatory functions also in other bacteria using comparable mechanisms.     

Biofilm development on Caenorhabditis elegans by Yersinia is facilitated by quorum sensing-dependent repression of type III secretion

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis forms biofilms on Caenorhabditis elegans which block nematode feeding. This genetically amenable host-pathogen model has important implications for biofilm development on living, motile surfaces. Here we show that Y. pseudotuberculosis biofilm development on C. elegans is governed by N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-mediated quorum sensing (QS) since (i) AHLs are produced in nematode associated biofilms and (ii) Y. pseudotuberculosis strains expressing an AHL-degrading enzyme or in which the AHL synthase (ypsI and ytbI) or response regulator (ypsR and ytbR) genes have been mutated, are attenuated. Although biofilm formation is also attenuated in Y. pseudotuberculosis strains carrying mutations in the QS-controlled motility regulator genes, flhDC and fliA, and the flagellin export gene, flhA, flagella are not required since fliC mutants form normal biofilms. However, in contrast to the parent and fliC mutant, Yop virulon proteins are up-regulated in flhDC, fliA and flhA mutants in a temperature and calcium independent manner. Similar observations were found for the Y. pseudotuberculosis QS mutants, indicating that the Yop virulon is repressed by QS via the master motility regulator, flhDC. By curing the pYV virulence plasmid from the ypsI/ytbI mutant, by growing YpIII under conditions permissive for type III needle formation but not Yop secretion and by mutating the type III secretion apparatus gene, yscJ, we show that biofilm formation can be restored in flhDC and ypsI/ytbI mutants. These data demonstrate that type III secretion blocks biofilm formation and is reciprocally regulated with motility via QS.     

Isolation of a new insertion element of Yersinia intermedia closely related to remnants of mobile genetic elements present on Yersinia plasmids harboring the Yop virulon

A new insertion element present in two alleles, designated IS1635.1 and IS1635.2, was identified on a plasmid of a Yersinia intermedia strain by hybridization with the Yersinia enterocolitica pYV virulence plasmid. IS1635.1 and IS1635.2 are 861 bp long, carry imperfect inverted terminal repeats and possess a single open reading frame encoding a putative transposase of the IS6 family. A truncated IS1635 element is present immediately downstream of element IS1635.2. The capacity of the IS1635 elements to mediate transposition in Yersinia was demonstrated with a R6K-derived suicide vector, where a kanamycin resistance gene had been inserted between IS1635.1 and IS1635.2. Hybridization and sequence alignments showed that remnants of IS1635-like insertion elements harboring large deletions and point mutations are present on the Yop virulon harboring plasmids of pathogenic Yersinia strains. In a few cases, the IS1635 element has also been found on plasmids of apathogenic Yersinia strains.