Ecto-ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S

Combined polymorphisms involving the IgG heavy chain and fc gamma receptors among Fulani and non-Fulani in Benin: Implications for the natural protection of young Fulani against plasmodium. Falciparum malaria infections

A decreased susceptibility of Fulani populations to malaria infections has been shown in Africa. A previous longitudinal cohort study conducted in the Atacora region of northern Benin showed a high merozoite-phagocytosis capacity in young Fulani. Here, we explored the combined polymorphisms in the constant region of the IgG3 heavy chain (presence/absence of the G3m6 allotype) and in Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs) as potentially involved in the natural protection against malaria of young Fulani in Benin. An active malaria follow-up was conducted among individuals from Fulani, Bariba, Otamari and Gando ethnic groups living in sympatry in Atacora, over the full malaria transmission season. FcγRIIA 131R/H (rs1801274), FcγRIIC C/T (rs3933769) and FcγRIIIA 176F/V (rs396991) were determined using the TaqMan method; FcγRIIIB NA1/NA2 was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using allele-specific primers and G3m6 using allotype by PCR-RFLP. Individual carriage of G3m6 (+) was associated with an increased risk of Pf malaria infection (logistic multivariate regression model (lmrm), IRR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.06;4.74, P = 0.034). Combined haplotype G3m6 (+) - FcγRIIA 131H - FcγRIIC T - FcγRIIIA 176F - FcγRIIIB NA2 was also associated with an increased risk of Pf malaria infection (lmrm, IRR = 13.01, 95% CI = 1.69;99.76, P = 0.014). G3m6 (-), FcγRIIA 131R and FcγRIIIB NA1 were more prevalent in young Fulani (P = 0.002, P < 0.001 and P = 0.049, respectively), while no Fulani presented the combined G3m6 (+) - FcγRIIA 131H - FcγRIIC T - FcγRIIIA 176F - FcγRIIIB NA2 haplotype that was carried by a majority of infected children. Our results highlight the combined factors G3m6 - FcγR as potentially involved in the merozoite-phagocytosis capacity and in the natural protection of young Fulani individuals against P. falciparum malaria in Benin.

Type 3 secretion system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen, mainly affecting severe patients, such as those in intensive care units (ICUs). High levels of antibiotic resistance and a long battery of virulence factors characterise this pathogen. Among virulence factors, the T3SS (Type 3 Secretion Systems) are especially relevant, being one of the most important virulence factors in P. aeruginosa. T3SS are a complex "molecular syringe" able to inject different effectors in host cells, subverting cell machinery influencing immune responses, and increasing bacterial survival rates. While T3SS have been largely studied and the molecular structure and main effector functions have been established, a series of questions and further points remain to be clarified or established. The key role of T3SS in P. aeruginosa virulence has resulted in the search for T3SS-targeting molecules able to impair their functions and subsequently improve patient outcomes. This review aims to summarise the most relevant features of the P. aeruginosa T3SS.

ADP-ribosylation and intracellular traffic: an emerging role for PARP enzymes

ADP-ribosylation is an ancient and reversible post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins, in which the ADP-ribose moiety is transferred from NAD+ to target proteins by members of poly-ADP-ribosyl polymerase (PARP) family. The 17 members of this family have been involved in a variety of cellular functions, where their regulatory roles are exerted through the modification of specific substrates, whose identification is crucial to fully define the contribution of this PTM. Evidence of the role of the PARPs is now available both in the context of physiological processes and of cell responses to stress or starvation. An emerging role of the PARPs is their control of intracellular transport, as it is the case for tankyrases/PARP5 and PARP12. Here, we discuss the evidence pointing at this novel aspect of PARPs-dependent cell regulation.

Exoenzyme S ADP-ribosylates Rab5 effector sites to uncouple intracellular trafficking

Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S (ExoS) ADP-ribosylates multiple eukaryotic targets to promote cytopathology and bacterial colonization. ADP-ribosylation of the small GTPase Rab5 has previously been shown to block fluid-phase endocytosis and trafficking of plasma membrane receptors to the early endosomes as well as inhibit phagocytosis of the bacterium. In this study, ExoS is shown to be capable of ADP-ribosylating 6 candidate arginine residues that are located in the effector binding region or in the C terminus of Rab5. Two Rab5 derivatives were engineered, which contained Arg→Ala mutations at four Arg residues within the effector binding region (EF) or two Arg residues within the C-terminal tail (TL). Expression of Rab5(TL) does not affect the ability of ExoS to modify intracellular trafficking, while expression of Rab5(EF) rescued the ability of ExoS to inhibit intracellular trafficking. ADP-ribosylation of effector arginines likely uncouples Rab5 signaling to downstream effectors. This is a different mechanism for inhibition than observed for the ADP-ribosylation of Ras by ExoS, where ADP-ribosylated Ras loses the ability to bind guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF). Other experiments showed that expression of dominant negative Rab5(Ser34Asn) does not inhibit ExoS trafficking to the perinuclear region of intoxicated cells. This study provides insight into a mechanism for how ExoS ADP-ribosylation of Rab5 inhibits Rab5 function.

Host cell cytotoxicity and cytoskeleton disruption by CerADPr, an ADP-ribosyltransferase of Bacillus cereus G9241

Bacillus cereus G9241 was isolated from a welder suffering from an anthrax-like inhalation illness. B. cereus G9241 encodes two megaplasmids, pBCXO1 and pBC210, which are analogous to the toxin- and capsule-encoding virulence plasmids of Bacillus anthracis. Protein modeling predicted that the pBC210 LF homologue contained an ADP-ribosyltransferase (ADPr) domain. This putative bacterial ADP-ribosyltransferase domain was denoted CerADPr. Iterative modeling showed that CerADPr possessed several conserved ADP-ribosyltransferase features, including an α-3 helix, an ADP-ribosyltransferase turn-turn loop, and a "Gln-XXX-Glu" motif. CerADPr ADP-ribosylated an ~120 kDa protein in HeLa cell lysates and intact cells. EGFP-CerADPr rounded HeLa cells, elicited cytoskeletal changes, and yielded a cytotoxic phenotype, indicating that CerADPr disrupts cytoskeletal signaling. CerADPr(E431D) did not possess ADP-ribosyltransferase or NAD glycohydrolase activities and did not elicit a phenotype in HeLa cells, implicating Glu431 as a catalytic residue. These experiments identify CerADPr as a cytotoxic ADP-ribosyltransferase that disrupts the host cytoskeleton.

Translocon-independent intracellular replication by Pseudomonas aeruginosa requires the ADP-ribosylation domain of ExoS

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a significant cause of human morbidity and mortality, uses a type 3 secretion system (T3SS) to inject effector toxins into host cells. We previously reported that P. aeruginosa uses ADP-ribosyltransferase (ADPr) activity of the T3SS effector ExoS for intracellular replication. T3SS translocon (ΔpopB)-mutants, which can export, but not translocate effectors across host membranes, retained intracellular replication. We hypothesized that secreted effectors mediate translocon-independent intracellular replication. Translocon mutants of PAO1 lacking one or more of its three known effectors (ExoS, ExoT and ExoY) were used. All translocon mutants, irrespective of effectors expressed, localized to intracellular vacuoles. Translocon-effector null mutants and translocon-exoS mutants showed defective intracellular replication. Mutants in exoT, exoY or both replicated as efficiently as translocon mutants expressing all effectors. Complementation of translocon-effector null mutants with native exoS or a membrane localization domain mutant of exoS, but not the ADPr mutant exoS (pUCPexoSE381D), restored intracellular replication, correlating with increased bacteria per vacuole. Thus, P. aeruginosa is capable of intravacuolar replication that requires ExoS ADPr activity, but not the translocon. These data suggest that T3SS effectors can participate in pathogenesis without translocon-mediated translocation across host membranes, and that intracellular bacteria can contribute to P. aeruginosa pathogenesis within epithelial cells.

Adenylate cyclase activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoY can mediate bleb-niche formation in epithelial cells and contributes to virulence

We previously showed that ADP-ribosylation (ADP-r) activity of ExoS, a type III secreted toxin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, enables bacterial replication in corneal and respiratory epithelial cells and correlates with bacterial trafficking to plasma membrane blebs (bleb-niche formation). Here, we explored another type III secreted toxin, ExoY, for its impact on intracellular trafficking and survival, and for virulence in vivo using a murine corneal infection model. Chromosomal or plasmid-mediated expression of exoY in invasive P. aeruginosa (strain PAO1) enabled bacteria to form and traffic to epithelial membrane blebs in the absence of other known effectors. In contrast, plasmid expression of any of four adenylate cyclase mutant forms of exoY did not enable bleb-niche formation, and bacteria localized to perinuclear vacuoles as for effector-null mutant controls. None of the plasmid-complemented bacteria used in this study showed ADP-r activity in the absence of ExoS and ExoT. In contrast to ADP-r activity of ExoS, bleb-niche formation induced by ExoY's adenylate cyclase activity was not accompanied by enhanced intracellular replication. In vivo results showed that ExoY-adenylate cyclase activity promoted P. aeruginosa corneal virulence in susceptible mice. Together the data show that adenylate cyclase activity of P. aeruginosa ExoY, similarly to the ADP-r activity of ExoS, can mediate bleb-niche formation in epithelial cells. While this activity did not promote intracellular replication in vitro, ExoY conferred increased virulence in vivo in susceptible mice. Mechanisms for bleb-niche formation and relationships to intracellular replication and virulence in vivo require further investigation for both ExoS and ExoY.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoS ADP-ribosyltransferase inhibits ERM phosphorylation

Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes life-threatening infections in compromised and cystic fibrosis patients. Pathogenesis stems from a number of virulence factors, including four type III translocated cytotoxins: ExoS, ExoT, ExoY and ExoU. ExoS is a bifunctional toxin: the N terminus (amino acids 96-219) encodes a Rho GTPase Activating Protein (GAP) domain. The C terminus (amino acids 234-453) encodes a 14-3-3-dependent ADP-ribosyltransferase domain which transfers ADP-ribose from NAD onto substrates such as the Ras GTPases and vimentin. Ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) proteins have recently been identified as high-affinity substrates for ADP-ribosylation by ExoS. Expression of ExoS in HeLa cells led to a loss of phosphorylation of ERM proteins that was dependent upon the expression of ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. MALDI-MS and site-directed mutagenesis studies determined that ExoS ADP-ribosylated moesin at three C-terminal arginines (Arg553, Arg560 and Arg563), which cluster Thr558, the site of phosphorylation by protein kinase C and Rho kinase. ADP-ribosylated-moesin was a poor target for phosphorylation by protein kinase C and Rho kinase, which showed that ADP-ribosylation directly inhibited ERM phosphorylation. Expression of dominant active-moesin inhibited cell rounding elicited by ExoS, indicating that moesin is a physiological target in cultured cells. This is the first demonstration that a bacterial toxin inhibits the phosphorylation of a mammalian protein through ADP-ribosylation. These data explain how the expression of the ADP-ribosylation of ExoS modifies the actin cytoskeleton and indicate that ExoS possesses redundant enzymatic activities to depolymerize the actin cytoskeleton.

Different domains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S activate distinct TLRs

Some bacterial products possess multiple immunomodulatory effects and thereby complex mechanisms of action. Exogenous administration of an important Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence factor, exoenzyme S (ExoS) induces potent monocyte activation leading to the production of numerous proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. However, ExoS is also injected directly into target cells, inducing cell death through its multiple effects on signaling pathways. This study addresses the mechanisms used by ExoS to induce monocyte activation. Exogenous administration resulted in specific internalization of ExoS via an actin-dependent mechanism. However, ExoS-mediated cellular activation was not inhibited if internalization was blocked, suggesting an alternate mechanism of activation. ExoS bound a saturable and specific receptor on the surface of monocytic cells. ExoS, LPS, and peptidoglycan were all able to induce tolerance and cross-tolerance to each other suggesting the involvement of a TLR in ExoS-recognition. ExoS activated monocytic cells via a myeloid differentiation Ag-88 pathway, using both TLR2 and the TLR4/MD-2/CD14 complex for cellular activation. Interestingly, the TLR2 activity was localized to the C-terminal domain of ExoS while the TLR4 activity was localized to the N-terminal domain. This study provides the first example of how different domains of the same molecule activate two TLRs, and also highlights the possible overlapping pathophysiological processes possessed by microbial toxins.

Ezrin/radixin/moesin proteins are high affinity targets for ADP-ribosylation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoS

Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoS is a bifunctional type III-secreted cytotoxin. The N terminus (amino acids 96-233) encodes a GTPase-activating protein activity, whereas the C terminus (amino acids 234-453) encodes a factor-activating ExoS-dependent ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. The GTPase-activating protein activity inactivates the Rho GTPases Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 in cultured cells and in vitro, whereas the ADP-ribosylation by ExoS is poly-substrate-specific and includes Ras as an early target for ADP-ribosylation. Infection of HeLa cells with P. aeruginosa producing a GTPase-activating protein-deficient form of ExoS rounded cells, indicating the ADP-ribosyltransferase domain alone is sufficient to elicit cytoskeletal changes. Examination of substrates modified by type III-delivered ExoS identified a 70-kDa protein as an early and predominant target for ADP-ribosylation. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectroscopy identified this protein as moesin, a member of the ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) family of proteins. ExoS ADP-ribosylated recombinant moesin at a linear velocity that was 5-fold faster and with a K(m) that was 2 orders of magnitude lower than Ras. Moesin homologs ezrin and radixin were also ADP-ribosylated, indicating the ERMs collectively represent high affinity targets of ExoS. Type III delivered ExoS ADP-ribosylated moesin and ezrin (and/or radixin) in cultured HeLa cells. The ERM proteins contribute to cytoskeleton dynamics, and the ability of ExoS to ADP-ribosylate the ERM proteins links ADP-ribosylation with the cytoskeletal changes associated with ExoS intoxication.

In vivo phospholipase activity of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytotoxin ExoU and protection of mammalian cells with phospholipase A2 inhibitors

A number of clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are cytotoxic to mammalian cells due to the action of the 74-kDa protein ExoU, which is secreted into host cells by the type III secretion system and whose function is unknown. Here we report that the swift and profound cytotoxicity induced by purified ExoU or by an ExoU-expressing strain of P. aeruginosa is blocked by various inhibitors of cytosolic (cPLA2) and Ca2+ -independent (iPLA2) phospholipase A2 enzymes. In contrast, no cytoprotection is offered by inhibitors of secreted phospholipase A2 enzymes or by a number of inhibitors of signal transduction pathways. This suggests that phospholipase A2 inhibitors may represent a novel mode of treatment for acute P. aeruginosa infections. We find that 300-600 molecules of ExoU/cell are required to achieve half-maximal cell killing and that ExoU localizes to the host cell plasma membrane in punctate fashion. We also show that ExoU interacts in vitro with an inhibitor of cPLA2 and iPLA2 enzymes and contains a putative serine-aspartate catalytic dyad homologous to those found in cPLA2 and iPLA2 enzymes. Mutation of either the serine or the aspartate renders ExoU non-cytotoxic. Although no phospholipase or esterase activity is detected in vitro, significant phospholipase activity is detected in vivo, suggesting that ExoU requires one or more host cell factors for activation as a membrane-lytic and cytotoxic phospholipase.

Triggering the ExoS regulon of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A GFP-reporter analysis of exoenzyme (Exo) S, ExoT and ExoU synthesis

The ExoS regulon of Pseudomonas aeruginosa encodes diverse type III secreted effector proteins which have been shown to exert cytotoxic effects in cell culture experiments. However, little information exists about the environmental conditions and stimuli for upregulation of the ExoS regulon. Translational reporter fusion proteins of exoenzyme (Exo) S, ExoT and ExoU, as well as the type II secreted exotoxin A (ETA) to the green fluorescent protein (GFP), were constructed in order to compare exoprotein production under diverse growth conditions. Reporter protein activity was recorded by FACS-analysis and by conventional and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Low ion concentration induced co-ordinated upregulation of ExoS, ExoT and ExoU with a maximum effect at 37 degrees C. A dose-dependent upregulation was seen with human serum or increasing NaCl concentrations. A type III secretion-negative pcrD mutant of P. aeruginosa showed a weak ExoS response to environmental stimuli, compared with the parental strain, suggesting a negative regulatory mechanism. Co-culture with the mammalian cell lines J774A.1 or HeLa led to rapid upregulation of ExoS, ExoT and ExoU synthesis. These data suggest that the ExoS regulon of P. aeruginosa can be triggered by a variety of environmental signals as well as by cell contact with eukaryotic cells.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa mediated apoptosis requires the ADP-ribosylating activity of exoS

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that primarily infects immunocompromised individuals and patients with cystic fibrosis. Using a tissue culture system, invasive strains of P. aeruginosa were discovered to induce apoptosis at high frequency in HeLa and other epithelial and fibroblast cell lines. This apoptotic phenotype in the infected cells was determined by several criteria including (i) visual changes in cell morphology, (ii) induction of chromatin condensation and nuclear marginalization, (iii) the presence of a high percentage of cells with subG1 DNA content, and (iv) activation of caspase-3 activity. Induction of the type III secretion machinery, but not invasion of P. aeruginosa is required for induction of apoptosis. The apoptosis phenotype is independent of the cytoskeletal rearrangements that occur in the host cell early after infection. Mutants in P. aeruginosa exoS fail to induce apoptosis and complementation with wild-type exoS restored the apoptosis-inducing capacity, demonstrating that ExoS is the effector molecule. Analysis of exoS activity mutants shows that the ADP-ribosylating capacity of ExoS is essential for inducing the apoptotic pathway.

Intracellular localization and processing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoS in eukaryotic cells

ExoS is a type III cytotoxin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which modulates two eukaryotic signalling pathways. The N-terminus (residues 1-234) is a GTPase activating protein (GAP) for RhoGTPases, while the C-terminus (residues 232-453) encodes an ADP-ribosyltransferase. Utilizing a series of N-terminal deletion peptides of ExoS and an epitope-tagged full-length ExoS, two independent domains have been identified within the N-terminus of ExoS that are involved in intracellular localization and expression of GAP activity. N-terminal peptides of ExoS localized to the perinuclear region of CHO cells, and a membrane localization domain was localized between residues 36 and 78 of ExoS. The capacity to elicit CHO cell rounding and express GAP activity resided within residues 90-234 of ExoS, which showed that membrane localization was not required to elicit actin reorganization. ExoS was present in CHO cells as a full-length form, which fractionated with membranes, and as an N-terminally processed fragment, which localized to the cytosol. Thus, ExoS localizes in eukaryotic cells to the perinuclear region and is processed to a soluble fragment, which possesses both the GAP and ADP-ribosyltransferase activities.

RecombinantPseudomonasexoenzyme S and exoenzyme S fromPseudomonas aeruginosaDG1 share the ability to stimulate T lymphocyte proliferation

Exoenzyme S from P. aeruginosa DG1 and recombinant exoenzyme S derived from strain 388 have distinct characteristics, which has led to a controversy about their homology and their pathophysiologic consequences. We have been investigating the ability of exoenzyme S to activate T lymphocytes, and therefore performed studies to determine whether exoenzyme S from P. aeruginosa DG1 and recombinant exoenzyme S derived from strain 388 and expressed in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA103 or in E. coli BL21(DE3), could induce T lymphocyte activation and proliferation. Both preparations were able to activate T cells and induce lymphocyte proliferation at similar levels as measured by flow cytometry of surface-activation markers and DNA synthesis, respectively. Further, a monoclonal antibody raised against exoenzyme S from strain DG1 partially neutralized T cell activation induced by recombinant exoenzyme S and bound to it in an immunoblot suggesting that the epitope responsible for T cell activation is shared by exoenzyme S from strain DG1 and recombinant exoenzyme S. These data suggest that the two different preparations of exoenzyme S, despite biochemical differences, share the characteristic that is responsible for T lymphocyte activation.Key words: exoenzyme S, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, T lymphocyte, cystic fibrosis.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S disrupts Ras-mediated signal transduction by inhibiting guanine nucleotide exchange factor-catalyzed nucleotide exchange

Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S double ADP-ribosylates Ras at Arg(41) and Arg(128). Since Arg(41) is adjacent to the switch 1 region of Ras, ADP-ribosylation could interfere with Ras-mediated signal transduction via several mechanisms, including interaction with Raf, or guanine nucleotide exchange factor-stimulated or intrinsic nucleotide exchange. Initial experiments showed that ADP-ribosylated Ras (ADP-r-Ras) and unmodified Ras (Ras) interacted with Raf with equal efficiencies, indicating that ADP-ribosylation did not interfere with Ras-Raf interactions. While ADP-r-Ras and Ras possessed equivalent intrinsic nucleotide exchange rates, guanine nucleotide exchange factor (Cdc25) stimulated the nucleotide exchange of ADP-r-Ras at a 3-fold slower rate than Ras. ADP-r-Ras did not affect the nucleotide exchange of Ras, indicating that the ADP-ribosylation of Ras was not a dominant negative phenotype. Ras-R41K and ADP-r-Ras R41K possessed similar exchange rates as Ras, indicating that ADP-ribosylation at Arg(128) did not inhibit Cdc25-stimulated nucleotide exchange. Consistent with the slower nucleotide exchange rate of ADP-r-Ras as compared with Ras, ADP-r-Ras bound its guanine nucleotide exchange factor (Cdc25) less efficiently than Ras in direct binding experiments. Together, these data indicate that ADP-ribosylation of Ras at Arg(41) disrupts Ras-Cdc25 interactions, which inhibits the rate-limiting step in Ras signal transduction, the activation of Ras by its guanine nucleotide exchange factor.

ADP-ribosylation of oncogenic Ras proteins by pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S in vivo

The exoenzyme S (ExoS)-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain, 388, and corresponding ExoS knock-out strain, 388deltaexoS, were used in a bacterial and mammalian co-culture system as a model for the contact-dependent delivery of ExoS into host cells. Examination of DNA synthesis and Ras ADP-ribosylation in tumour cell lines expressing normal and mutant Ras revealed a decrease in DNA synthesis concomitant with ADP-ribosylation of Ras proteins after exposure to ExoS-producing bacteria, but not after exposure to non-ExoS-producing bacteria. Examination of normal H-Ras, K-Ras and N-Ras by two-dimensional electrophoresis after exposure to bacteria revealed differences in the degree of ADP-ribosylation by ExoS, with H-Ras being modified most extensively. ADP-ribosylation of oncogenic forms of Ras was examined in vivo using cancer lines expressing mutant forms of H-, N- or K-Ras. The mutant Ras proteins were modified in a manner qualitatively similar to their normal counterparts. Using Ras/Raf-1 co-immunoprecipitation after co-culture, it was found that exposure to ExoS-producing bacteria caused a decrease in the amount of Raf-1 associated with EGF-activated Ras and oncogenic Ras. The results from this study indicate that ExoS ADP-ribosylates both normal and mutant Ras proteins in vivo and inhibits signalling through Ras.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S, a double ADP-ribosyltransferase, resembles vertebrate mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases

Previous data indicated that Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S (ExoS) ADP-ribosylated Ras at multiple sites. One site appeared to be Arg41, but the second site could not be localized. In this study, the sites of ADP-ribosylation of c-Ha-Ras by ExoS were directly determined. Under saturating conditions, ExoS ADP-ribosylated Ras to a stoichiometry of 2 mol of ADP-ribose incorporated per mol of Ras. Nucleotide occupancy did not influence the stoichiometry or velocity of ADP-ribosylation of Ras by ExoS. Edman degradation and mass spectrometry of V8 protease generated peptides of ADP-ribosylated Ras identified the sites of ADP-ribosylation to be Arg41 and Arg128. ExoS ADP-ribosylated the double mutant, RasR41K,R128K, to a stoichiometry of 1 mol of ADP-ribose incorporated per mol of Ras, which indicated that Ras possessed an alternative site of ADP-ribosylation. The alternative site of ADP-ribosylation on Ras was identified as Arg135, which was on the same alpha-helix as Arg128. Arg41 and Arg128 are located within two different secondary structure motifs, beta-sheet and alpha-helix, respectively, and are spatially separated within the three-dimensional structure of Ras. The fact that ExoS could ADP-ribosylate a target protein at multiple sites, along with earlier observations that ExoS could ADP-ribosylate numerous target proteins, were properties that have been attributed to several vertebrate ADP-ribosyltransferases. This prompted a detailed alignment study which showed that the catalytic domain of ExoS possessed considerably more primary amino acid homology with the vertebrate mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases than the bacterial ADP-ribosyltransferases. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that ExoS may represent an evolutionary link between bacterial and vertebrate mono-ADP-ribosyltransferases.

The amino-terminal domain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ExoS disrupts actin filaments via small-molecular-weight GTP-binding proteins

Pseudomonas aeruginosa delivers exoenzyme S (ExoS) into the intracellular compartment of eukaryotic cells via a type III secretion pathway. Intracellular delivery of ExoS is cytotoxic for eukaryotic cells and has been shown to ADP-ribosylate Ras in vivo and uncouple a Ras-mediated signal transduction pathway. Functional mapping has localized the FAS-dependent ADP-ribosyltransferase domain to the carboxyl-terminus of ExoS. A transient transfection system was used to examine cellular responses to the amino-terminal 234 amino acids of ExoS (DeltaC234). Intracellular expression of DeltaC234 elicited the rounding of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and the disruption of actin filaments in a dose-dependent manner. Expression of DeltaC234 did not inhibit the expression of two independent reporter proteins, GFP and luciferase, or induce trypan blue uptake, which indicated that expression of DeltaC234 was not cytotoxic to CHO cells. Carboxyl-terminal deletion proteins of DeltaC234 were less efficient in the elicitation of CHO cell rounding than DeltaC234. Cytoskeleton rearrangement elicited by DeltaC234 was blocked and reversed by the addition of cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF-1). CNF-1 catalyses the deamidation of Gln-63 of members of the Rho subfamily of small-molecular-weight GTP-binding proteins, resulting in protein activation. This implies a role for small-molecular-weight GTP-binding proteins in the disruption of actin by DeltaC234. Together, these data identify ExoS as a cytotoxin that possesses two functional domains. Intracellular expression of the amino-terminal domain of ExoS elicits the disruption of actin, while expression of the carboxyl-terminal domain of ExoS possesses FAS-dependent ADP-ribosyltransferase activity and is cytotoxic to eukaryotic cells.

Active and passive immunization with the Pseudomonas V antigen protects against type III intoxication and lung injury

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that can cause fatal acute lung infections in critically ill individuals. Damage to the lung epithelium is associated with the expression of toxins that are directly injected into eukaryotic cells through a type Ill-mediated secretion and translocation mechanism. Here we show that the P. aeruginosa homolog of the Yersinia V antigen, PcrV, is involved in the translocation of type III toxins. Vaccination against PcrV ensured the survival of challenged mice and decreased lung inflammation and injury. Antibodies to PcrV inhibited the translocation of type III toxins.

Regulation of ExoS production and secretion by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in response to tissue culture conditions

This study was initiated to characterize the regulation and secretion of ExoS by Pseudomonas aeruginosa during contact with eukaryotic cells. The production of ExoS was monitored by a sensitive ADP-ribosyltransferase activity assay, and specific activities were calculated for supernatant and cell-associated fractions. Time course analysis indicated that ExoS was produced after a lag period, suggesting that induction of the regulon is necessary for the expression of detectable amounts of enzyme activity. Under tissue culture growth conditions, ExoS was induced when P. aeruginosa was in contact with Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells or after growth in tissue culture medium with serum. The serum induction of ExoS appeared to result in generalized type III secretion, while induction by contact with CHO cells appeared to result in polarized type III secretion. Mutants in the type III secretory system that express a null phenotype for ExoS production in bacteriological medium produced but did not secrete the enzyme when P. aeruginosa was grown under inducing conditions in tissue culture medium. These results suggest that both induction and secretion of ExoS may differ when the bacteria are exposed to different growth environments. The putative type III translocation proteins and secretion apparatus of P. aeruginosa were required for translocation of bacterial factors that mediate changes in CHO cell morphology during infection.

ExoY, an adenylate cyclase secreted by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa type III system

The exoenzyme S regulon is a set of coordinately regulated virulence genes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Proteins encoded by the regulon include a type III secretion and translocation apparatus, regulators of gene expression, and effector proteins. The effector proteins include two enzymes with ADP-ribosyltransferase activity (ExoS and ExoT) and an acute cytotoxin (ExoU). In this study, we identified ExoY as a fourth effector protein of the regulon. ExoY is homologous to the extracellular adenylate cyclases of Bordetella pertussis (CyaA) and Bacillus anthracis (EF). The homology among the three adenylate cyclases is limited to two short regions, one of which possesses an ATP-binding motif. In assays for adenylate cyclase activity, recombinant ExoY (rExoY) catalyzed the formation of cAMP with a specific activity similar to the basal activity of CyaA. In contrast to CyaA and EF, rExoY activity was not stimulated or activated by calmodulin. A 500-fold stimulation of activity was detected following the addition of a cytosolic extract from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. These results indicate that a eukaryotic factor, distinct from calmodulin, enhances rExoY catalysis. Site-directed mutagenesis of residues within the putative active site of ExoY abolished adenylate cyclase activity. Infection of CHO cells with ExoY-producing strains of P. aeruginosa resulted in the intracellular accumulation of cAMP. cAMP accumulation within CHO cells depended on an intact type III translocation apparatus, demonstrating that ExoY is directly translocated into the eukaryotic cytosol.

Intracellular expression of the ADP-ribosyltransferase domain of Pseudomonas exoenzyme S is cytotoxic to eukaryotic cells

Exoenzyme S of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an ADP-ribosyltransferase, which is secreted via a type III-dependent secretion mechanism and has been demonstrated to exert cytotoxic effects on eukaryotic cells. Alignment studies predict that the amino-terminus of exoenzyme S has limited primary amino acid homology with the YopE cytotoxin of Yersinia, while biochemical studies have localized the FAS-dependent ADP-ribosyltransferase activity to the carboxyl-terminus. Thus, exoenzyme S could interfere with host cell physiology via several independent mechanisms. The goal of this study was to define the role of the ADP-ribosyltransferase domain in the modulation of eukaryotic cell physiology. The carboxyl-terminal 222 amino acids of exoenzyme S, which represent the FAS-dependent ADP-ribosyltransferase domain (termed deltaN222), and a point mutant, deltaN222-E381A, which possesses a 2000-fold reduction in the capacity to ADP-ribosylate, were transiently expressed in eukaryotic cells under the control of the immediate early CMV promoter. Lysates from cells transfected with deltaN222 expressed ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. Co-transfection of deltaN222, but not deltaN222-E381A, resulted in a decrease in the steady-state levels of two reporter proteins, green fluorescent protein and luciferase, in both CHO and Vero cells. In addition, transfection with deltaN222 resulted in a greater percentage of cells staining with trypan blue than when cells were transfected with either deltaN222-E381A or control plasmid. Together, these data indicate that expression of the ADP-ribosyltransferase domain of exoenzyme S is cytotoxic to eukaryotic cells.

Modification of Ras in eukaryotic cells by Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S

Genetic and functional data suggest that Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S (ExoS), an ADP-ribosyltransferase, is translocated into eukaryotic cells by a bacterial type III secretory mechanism activated by contact between bacteria and host cells. Although purified ExoS is not toxic to eukaryotic cells, ExoS-producing bacteria cause reduced proliferation and viability, possibly mediated by bacterially translocated ExoS. To investigate the activity of translocated ExoS, we examined in vivo modification of Ras, a preferred in vitro substrate. The ExoS-producing strain P. aeruginosa 388 and an isogenic mutant strain, 388DeltaexoS, which fails to produce ExoS, were cocultured with HT29 colon carcinoma cells. Ras was found to be ADP-ribosylated during coculture with 388 but not with 388DeltaexoS, and Ras modification by 388 corresponded with reduction in HT29 cell DNA synthesis. Active translocation by bacteria was found to be required, since exogenous ExoS, alone or in the presence of 388DeltaexoS, was unable to modify intracellular Ras. Other ExoS-producing strains caused modification of Ras, indicating that this is not a strain-specific event. ADP-ribosylation of Rap1, an additional Ras family substrate for ExoS in vitro, was not detectable in vivo under conditions sufficient for Ras modification, suggesting possible ExoS substrate preference among Ras-related proteins. These results confirm that intracellular Ras is modified by bacterially translocated ExoS and that the inhibition of target cell proliferation correlates with the efficiency of Ras modification.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S ADP-ribosylates Ras at multiple sites

Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S (ExoS) ADP-ribosylated Ras to a stoichiometry of approximately 2 molecules of ADP-ribose incorporated per molecule of Ras, which suggested that ExoS could ADP-ribosylate Ras at more than one arginine residue. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis showed that ADP-ribosylated Ras possessed a slower mobility than non-ADP-ribosylated Ras. Analysis of the ADP-ribosylation of in vitro transcribed/translated Ras by ExoS identified two electrophoretically shifted forms of Ras, which was consistent with the ADP-ribosylation of Ras at two distinct arginine residues. Analysis of ADP-ribosylated in vitro transcribed/translated Ras mutants possessing individual Arg-to-Ala substitutions showed that Arg-41 was the preferred site of ADP-ribosylation and that the second ADP-ribosylation event occurred at a slower rate than the ADP-ribosylation at Arg-41, but did not occur at a specific arginine residue. Analysis of bacterially expressed wild-type RasDeltaCAAX and RasDeltaCAAXR41K supported the conclusion that Arg-41 was the preferred site of ADP-ribosylation. Arg-41 is located adjacent to the switch 1 region of Ras, which is involved in effector interactions. Introduction of ExoS into eukaryotic cells inhibited Ras-mediated eukaryotic signal transduction since infection of PC-12 cells with an ExoS-producing strain of P. aeruginosa inhibited nerve growth factor-stimulated neurite formation. This is the first demonstration that ExoS disrupts a Ras-mediated signal transduction pathway.