Mapping the functional yeast ABC transporter interactome.

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are a ubiquitous class of integral membrane proteins of immense clinical interest because of their strong association with human disease and pharmacology. To improve our understanding of these proteins, we used membrane yeast two-hybrid technology to map the protein interactome of all of the nonmitochondrial ABC transporters in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae and combined this data with previously reported yeast ABC transporter interactions in the BioGRID database to generate a comprehensive, integrated 'interactome'. We show that ABC transporters physically associate with proteins involved in an unexpectedly diverse range of functions. We specifically examine the importance of the physical interactions of ABC transporters in both the regulation of one another and in the modulation of proteins involved in zinc homeostasis. The interaction network presented here will be a powerful resource for increasing our fundamental understanding of the cellular role and regulation of ABC transporters.

Laboratory and clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains do not bind glycosphingolipids in vitro or during type IV pili-mediated initial host cell attachment.

The glycosphingolipids (GSLs) gangliotriaosylceramide (Gg(3)) and gangliotetraosylceramide (Gg(4)) have been implicated as receptors for type IV pili (T4P)-mediated Pseudomonas aeruginosa epithelial cell attachment. Since P. aeruginosa T4P are divided into five groups, the authors determined whether GSLs in general, and Gg(3) and Gg(4) in particular, are specifically bound and required for host epithelial cell attachment of clinical and laboratory strains within these groups. An enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli strain, CL56, known to bind to both Gg(3) and Gg(4), provided a positive control. TLC overlay showed no binding of more than 12 P. aeruginosa strains to either Gg(3) or Gg(4) (or other GSLs), while CL56 Gg(3)/Gg(4) binding was readily detectable. GSL ELISA similarly demonstrated no significant P. aeruginosa binding to Gg(3) or Gg(4), compared with CL56. Using a selective chemical inhibitor, epithelial cell GSL synthesis was abrogated, and Gg(3) and Gg(4) expression deleted, but P. aeruginosa attachment was not impaired. Target cell attachment was mediated by T4P, since non-piliated, but flagellated, mutants were unable to bind to the target cells. CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) has also been implicated as a receptor; however, in this work, overexpression of CFTR had no effect on P. aeruginosa binding. It is concluded that neither Gg(3) nor Gg(4) are specifically recognized by P. aeruginosa, and that endogenous GSLs do not have a role in the attachment of live intact P. aeruginosa to cultured lung epithelial cells. In contrast to whole piliated P. aeruginosa, T4P sheared from such bacteria showed significant Gg(3) and Gg(4) binding, which may explain the results of other studies.