Molecular Mimicry by an F-Box Effector of Legionella pneumophila Hijacks a Conserved Polyubiquitination Machinery within Macrophages and Protozoa

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000704
• Publication Date: 2009-12-23T16:04:02Z
• Authors: Christopher T. Price; Souhaila Al-Khodor; Tasneem Al-Quadan; Marina Santic; Fabien Habyarimana; Awdhesh Kalia; Yousef Abu Kwaik
• Keywords: TSG101; Skp1; Schneider 2 cells

The ability of Legionella pneumophila to proliferate within various protozoa in the aquatic environment and macrophages indicates a remarkable evolution microbial exploitation evolutionarily conserved eukaryotic processes. Ankyrin B (AnkB) L. is non-canonical F-box-containing protein, only known Dot/Icm-translocated effector essential for intra-vacuolar proliferation both protozoan hosts. We show that F-box domain AnkB 9L10P residues are intracellular bacterial rapid acquisition polyubiquitinated proteins by Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV) macrophages, Dictyostelium discoideum, Acanthamoeba. Interestingly, translocation recruitment Acanthamoeba rapidly triggered extracellular bacteria 5 min attachment. Ectopically expressed mammalian cells localized periphery cell where it co-localizes with host SKP1 recruits proteins, which results restoration growth ankB mutant similar parental strain. While an ectopically AnkB-9L10P/AA variant periphery, does not recruit fails trans-rescue defect. Direct vivo interaction but demonstrated. Importantly, RNAi-mediated silencing expression renders non-permissive pneumophila. role polyubiquitination machinery intrapulmonary mouse model Legionnaires' disease. Therefore, exhibits novel molecular functional mimicry exploits distant