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Sci. Signal., 3 November 2009
Vol. 2, Issue 95, p. ra71
[DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2000430]

RESEARCH ARTICLES

Activation of a Bacterial Virulence Protein by the GTPase RhoA

Matthias Christen1*, Lisette H. Coye1*, Jill S. Hontz2, Doris L. LaRock3, Richard A. Pfuetzner1, Megha2, and Samuel I. Miller1,2,3,4{dagger}

1 Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
2 Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
3 Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
4 Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.

* These authors contributed equally to this work.

Abstract: The Rho family of guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) are essential eukaryotic signaling molecules that regulate cellular physiology. Virulence factors from various pathogens alter the signaling of GTPases by acting as GTPase activating factors, guanine nucleotide exchange factors, or direct covalent modifiers; however, bacterial virulence factors that sense rather than alter the signaling states of Rho GTPases have not been previously described. Here, we report that the translocated Salmonellae virulence factor SseJ binds to the guanosine triphosphate–bound form of RhoA. This interaction stimulates the lipase activity of SseJ, which results in the esterification of cholesterol in the host cell membrane. Our results suggest that the activation of molecules downstream of GTPases is not exclusive to eukaryotic proteins, and that a bacterial protein has evolved to recognize the activation state of RhoA, which regulates its enzymatic activity as part of the host-pathogen interaction.

{dagger} To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: millersi{at}u.washington.edu

Citation: M. Christen, L. H. Coye, J. S. Hontz, D. L. LaRock, R. A. Pfuetzner, Megha, S. I. Miller, Activation of a Bacterial Virulence Protein by the GTPase RhoA. Sci. Signal. 2, ra71 (2009).

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