Macrophage innate immune responses delineate between defective translocon assemblies produced by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis YopD mutants.

Translocon pores formed in the eukaryotic cell membrane by a type III secretion system facilitate the translocation of immune-modulatory effector proteins into the host cell interior. The YopB and YopD proteins produced and secreted by pathogenic Yersinia spp. harboring a virulence plasmid-encoded type III secretion system perform this pore-forming translocator function. We had previously characterized in vitro T3SS function and in vivo pathogenicity of a number of strains encoding sited-directed point mutations in yopD. This resulted in the classification of mutants into three different classes based upon the severity of the phenotypic defects. To investigate the molecular and functional basis for these defects, we explored the effectiveness of RAW 264.7 cell line to respond to infection by representative YopD mutants of all three classes. Signature cytokine profiles could separate the different YopD mutants into distinct categories. The activation and suppression of certain cytokines that function as central innate immune response modulators correlated well with the ability of mutant bacteria to alter anti-phagocytosis and programmed cell death pathways. These analyses demonstrated that sub-optimal translocon pores impact the extent and magnitude of host cell responsiveness, and this limits the capacity of pathogenic Yersinia spp. to fortify against attack by both early and late arms of the host innate immune response.

The Amino-Terminal Part of the Needle-Tip Translocator LcrV of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Is Required for Early Targeting of YopH and In vivo Virulence.

Type III secretion systems (T3SS) are dedicated to targeting anti-host effector proteins into the cytosol of the host cell to promote bacterial infection. Delivery of the effectors requires three specific translocator proteins, of which the hydrophilic translocator, LcrV, is located at the tip of the T3SS needle and is believed to facilitate insertion of the two hydrophobic translocators into the host cell membrane. Here we used Yersinia as a model to study the role of LcrV in T3SS mediated intracellular effector targeting. Intriguingly, we identified N-terminal lcrV mutants that, similar to the wild-type protein, efficiently promoted expression, secretion and intracellular levels of Yop effectors, yet they were impaired in their ability to inhibit phagocytosis by J774 cells. In line with this, the YopH mediated dephosphorylation of Focal Adhesion Kinase early after infection was compromised when compared to the wild type strain. This suggests that the mutants are unable to promote efficient delivery of effectors to their molecular targets inside the host cell upon host cell contact. The significance of this was borne out by the fact that the mutants were highly attenuated for virulence in the systemic mouse infection model. Our study provides both novel and significant findings that establish a role for LcrV in early targeting of effectors in the host cell.

YopN and TyeA Hydrophobic Contacts Required for Regulating Ysc-Yop Type III Secretion Activity by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.

Yersinia bacteria target Yop effector toxins to the interior of host immune cells by the Ysc-Yop type III secretion system. A YopN-TyeA heterodimer is central to controlling Ysc-Yop targeting activity. A + 1 frameshift event in the 3-prime end of yopN can also produce a singular secreted YopN-TyeA polypeptide that retains some regulatory function even though the C-terminal coding sequence of this YopN differs greatly from wild type. Thus, this YopN C-terminal segment was analyzed for its role in type III secretion control. Bacteria producing YopN truncated after residue 278, or with altered sequence between residues 279 and 287, had lost type III secretion control and function. In contrast, YopN variants with manipulated sequence beyond residue 287 maintained full control and function. Scrutiny of the YopN-TyeA complex structure revealed that residue W279 functioned as a likely hydrophobic contact site with TyeA. Indeed, a YopN W279G mutant lost all ability to bind TyeA. The TyeA residue F8 was also critical for reciprocal YopN binding. Thus, we conclude that specific hydrophobic contacts between opposing YopN and TyeA termini establishes a complex needed for regulating Ysc-Yop activity.

Inflammasome activation in response to the Yersinia type III secretion system requires hyperinjection of translocon proteins YopB and YopD.

UNLABELLED: Type III secretion systems (T3SS) translocate effector proteins into target cells in order to disrupt or modulate host cell signaling pathways and establish replicative niches. However, recognition of T3SS activity by cytosolic pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) of the nucleotide-binding domain leucine rich repeat (NLR) family, either through detection of translocated products or membrane disruption, induces assembly of multiprotein complexes known as inflammasomes. Macrophages infected with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strains lacking all known effectors or lacking the translocation regulator YopK induce rapid activation of both the canonical NLRP3 and noncanonical caspase-11 inflammasomes. While this inflammasome activation requires a functional T3SS, the precise signal that triggers inflammasome activation in response to Yersinia T3SS activity remains unclear. Effectorless strains of Yersinia as well as ΔyopK strains translocate elevated levels of T3SS substrates into infected cells. To dissect the contribution of pore formation and translocation to inflammasome activation, we took advantage of variants of YopD and LcrH that separate these functions of the T3SS. Notably, YopD variants that abrogated translocation but not pore-forming activity failed to induce inflammasome activation. Furthermore, analysis of individual infected cells revealed that inflammasome activation at the single-cell level correlated with translocated levels of YopB and YopD themselves. Intriguingly, LcrH mutants that are fully competent for effector translocation but produce and translocate lower levels of YopB and YopD also fail to trigger inflammasome activation. Our findings therefore suggest that hypertranslocation of YopD and YopB is linked to inflammasome activation in response to the Yersinia T3SS. IMPORTANCE: The innate immune response is critical to effective clearance of pathogens. Recognition of conserved virulence structures and activities by innate immune receptors such as NLRs constitute one of the first steps in mounting the innate immune response. However, pathogens such as Yersinia actively evade or subvert components of host defense, such as inflammasomes. The T3SS-secreted protein YopK is an essential virulence factor that limits translocation of other Yops, thereby limiting T3SS-induced inflammasome activation. However, what triggers inflammasome activation in cells infected by YopK-deficient Yersinia is not clear. Our findings indicate that hypertranslocation of pore complex proteins promotes inflammasome activation and that YopK prevents inflammasome activation by the T3SS by limiting translocation of YopD and YopB themselves.

Genetically engineered frameshifted YopN-TyeA chimeras influence type III secretion system function in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.

Type III secretion is a tightly controlled virulence mechanism utilized by many gram negative bacteria to colonize their eukaryotic hosts. To infect their host, human pathogenic Yersinia spp. translocate protein toxins into the host cell cytosol through a preassembled Ysc-Yop type III secretion device. Several of the Ysc-Yop components are known for their roles in controlling substrate secretion and translocation. Particularly important in this role is the YopN and TyeA heterodimer. In this study, we confirm that Y. pseudotuberculosis naturally produce a 42 kDa YopN-TyeA hybrid protein as a result of a +1 frame shift near the 3 prime of yopN mRNA, as has been previously reported for the closely related Y. pestis. To assess the biological role of this YopN-TyeA hybrid in T3SS by Y. pseudotuberculosis, we used in cis site-directed mutagenesis to engineer bacteria to either produce predominately the YopN-TyeA hybrid by introducing +1 frame shifts to yopN after codon 278 or 287, or to produce only singular YopN and TyeA polypeptides by introducing yopN sequence from Y. enterocolitica, which is known not to produce the hybrid. Significantly, the engineered 42 kDa YopN-TyeA fusions were abundantly produced, stable, and were efficiently secreted by bacteria in vitro. Moreover, these bacteria could all maintain functionally competent needle structures and controlled Yops secretion in vitro. In the presence of host cells however, bacteria producing the most genetically altered hybrids (+1 frameshift after 278 codon) had diminished control of polarized Yop translocation. This corresponded to significant attenuation in competitive survival assays in orally infected mice, although not at all to the same extent as Yersinia lacking both YopN and TyeA proteins. Based on these studies with engineered polypeptides, most likely a naturally occurring YopN-TyeA hybrid protein has the potential to influence T3S control and activity when produced during Yersinia-host cell contact.

Type III secretion translocon assemblies that attenuate Yersinia virulence.

Type III secretion enables bacteria to intoxicate eukaryotic cells with anti-host effectors. A class of secreted cargo are the two hydrophobic translocators that form a translocon pore in the host cell plasma membrane through which the translocated effectors may gain cellular entry. In pathogenic Yersinia, YopB and YopD shape this translocon pore. Here, four in cis yopD mutations were constructed to disrupt a predicted α-helix motif at the C-terminus. Mutants YopD(I262P) and YopD(K267P) poorly localized Yop effectors into target eukaryotic cells and failed to resist uptake and killing by immune cells. These defects were due to deficiencies in host-membrane insertion of the YopD-YopB translocon. Mutants YopDA(263P) and YopD(A270P) had no measurable in vitro translocation defect, even though they formed smaller translocon pores in erythrocyte membranes. Despite this, all four mutants were attenuated in a mouse infection model. Hence, YopD variants have been generated that can spawn translocons capable of targeting effectors in vitro, yet were bereft of any lethal effect in vivo. Therefore, Yop translocators may possess other in vivo functions that extend beyond being a portal for effector delivery into host cells.

The RACK1 signaling scaffold protein selectively interacts with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis virulence function.

Many gram-negative bacteria use type III secretion systems to translocate effector proteins into host cells. These effectors interfere with cellular functions in a highly regulated manner resulting in effects that are beneficial for the bacteria. The pathogen Yersinia can resist phagocytosis by eukaryotic cells by translocating Yop effectors into the target cell cytoplasm. This is called antiphagocytosis, and constitutes an important virulence feature of this pathogen since it allows survival in immune cell rich lymphoid organs. We show here that the virulence protein YopK has a role in orchestrating effector translocation necessary for productive antiphagocytosis. We present data showing that YopK influences Yop effector translocation by modulating the ratio of the pore-forming proteins YopB and YopD in the target cell membrane. Further, we show that YopK that can interact with the translocators, is exposed inside target cells and binds to the eukaryotic signaling protein RACK1. This protein is engaged upon Y. pseudotuberculosis-mediated ß1-integrin activation and localizes to phagocytic cups. Cells with downregulated RACK1 levels are protected from antiphagocytosis. This resistance is not due to altered levels of translocated antiphagocytic effectors, and cells with reduced levels of RACK1 are still sensitive to the later occurring cytotoxic effect caused by the Yop effectors. Further, a yopK mutant unable to bind RACK1 shows an avirulent phenotype during mouse infection, suggesting that RACK1 targeting by YopK is a requirement for virulence. Together, our data imply that the local event of Yersinia-mediated antiphagocytosis involves a step where YopK, by binding RACK1, ensures an immediate specific spatial delivery of antiphagocytic effectors leading to productive inhibition of phagocytosis.

Electrostatic interactions play a minor role in the binding of ExoS to 14-3-3 proteins.

14-3-3 proteins belong to a family of conserved molecules expressed in all eukaryotic cells that play an important role in a multitude of signalling pathways. 14-3-3 proteins bind either to phosphoserine/phosphothreonine residues or to sequence-specific non-phosphorylated motifs in more than 200 interaction partners [Pozuelo Rubio, Geraghty, Wong, Wood, Campbell, Morrice and Mackintosh (2004) Biochem. J. 379, 395-408]. These interactions result in cell-cycle regulation, apoptosis, stress responses, cell metabolism and malignant transformation. One example of a phosphorylation-independent interaction is the binding of 14-3-3 to ExoS (exoenzyme S), a bacterial ADP-ribosyltransferase toxin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In the present study, we have utilized additional biochemical and infection analyses to define further the structural basis of the interaction between ExoS and 14-3-3. An ExoS leucine-substitution mutant dramatically reduced the interaction potential with 14-3-3 suggesting that Leu422, Leu423, Leu426 and Leu428 of ExoS are important for its interaction with 14-3-3, its enzymatic activity and cytotoxicity. However, ExoS substitution mutants of residues that interact with 14-3-3 through an electrostatic interaction, such as Ser416, His418, Asp424 and Asp427, showed no reduction in their interaction potential with 14-3-3. These ExoS substitution mutants were also as aggressive as wild-type ExoS at inducing cell death and to modify endogenous ExoS target within the cell. In conclusion, electrostatic interaction between ExoS and 14-3-3 via polar residues (Ser416, His418, Asp424 and Asp427) appears to be of secondary importance. Thus the interaction between the 'roof' of the groove of 14-3-3 and ExoS relies more on hydrophobic interaction forces, which probably contributes to induce cell death after ExoS infection and activation.

Delineation of exoenzyme S residues that mediate the interaction with 14-3-3 and its biological activity.

14-3-3 proteins belong to a family of conserved molecules expressed in all eukaryotic cells, which play an important role in a multitude of signaling pathways. 14-3-3 proteins bind to phosphoserine/phosphothreonine motifs in a sequence-specific manner. More than 200 14-3-3 binding partners have been found that are involved in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, stress responses, cell metabolism and malignant transformation. A phosphorylation-independent interaction has been reported to occur between 14-3-3 and a C-terminal domain within exoenzyme S (ExoS), a bacterial ADP-ribosyltransferase toxin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this study, we have investigated the effect of amino acid mutations in this C-terminal domain of ExoS on ADP-ribosyltransferase activity and the 14-3-3 interaction. Our results suggest that leucine-428 of ExoS is the most critical residue for ExoS enzymatic activity, as cytotoxicity analysis reveals that substitution of this leucine significantly weakens the ability of ExoS to mediate cell death. Leucine-428 is also required for the ability of ExoS to modify the eukaryotic endogenous target Ras. Finally, single amino acid substitutions of positions 426-428 reduce the interaction potential of 14-3-3 with ExoS in vitro.

Interaction between the Yersinia protein tyrosine phosphatase YopH and eukaryotic Cas/Fyb is an important virulence mechanism.

The tyrosine phosphatase YopH is an essential virulence factor produced by pathogenic Yersinia species. YopH is translocated into host cells via a type III secretion system and its dephosphorylating activity causes disruption of focal complex structures and blockage of the phagocytic process. Among the host cell targets of YopH are the focal adhesion proteins Crk-associated substrate (p130Cas) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in epithelial cells, and p130Cas and Fyn-binding protein (Fyb) in macrophages. Previous studies have shown that the N-terminal domain of YopH acts as a substrate-binding domain. In this study, the mechanism and biological importance of the targeting of YopH to focal complexes relative to its interaction with p130Cas/Fyb was elucidated. Mutants of YopH that were defective in p130Cas/Fyb binding but otherwise indistinguishable from wild type were constructed. Mutants unable to bind p130Cas did not localize to focal complex structures in infected cells, indicating that the association with p130Cas is critical for appropriate subcellular localization of YopH. These yopH mutants were also clearly attenuated in virulence, showing that binding to p130Cas and/or Fyb is biologically relevant in Yersinia infections.

A nonphosphorylated 14-3-3 binding motif on exoenzyme S that is functional in vivo.

14-3-3 proteins play an important role in a multitude of signalling pathways. The interactions between 14-3-3 and other signalling proteins, such as Raf and KSR (kinase suppressor of Ras), occur in a phospho-specific manner. Recently, a phosphorylation-independent interaction has been reported to occur between 14-3-3 and several proteins, for example 5-phosphatase, p75NTR-associated cell death executor (NADE) and the bacterial toxin Exoenzyme S (ExoS), an ADP-ribosyltransferase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this study we have identified the amino acid residues on ExoS, which are responsible for its specific interaction with 14-3-3. Furthermore, we show that a peptide derived from ExoS, containing the 14-3-3 interaction site, effectively competes out the interaction between ExoS and 14-3-3. In addition, competition with this peptide blocks ExoS modification of Ras in our Ras modification assay. We show that the ExoS protein interacts with all isoforms of the 14-3-3 family tested. Moreover, in vivo an ExoS protein lacking the 14-3-3 binding site has a reduced capacity to ADP ribosylate cytoplasmic proteins, e.g. Ras, and shows a reduced capacity to change the morphology of infected cells.