This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Stein, M.
Right arrow Articles by Finlay, B. B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Stein, M.
Right arrow Articles by Finlay, B. B.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J. Bacteriol., 11 1996, 6546-6554, Vol 178, No. 22
Copyright © 1996, American Society for Microbiology

Characterization of EspC, a 110-kilodalton protein secreted by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli which is homologous to members of the immunoglobulin A protease-like family of secreted proteins

M Stein, B Kenny, MA Stein and BB Finlay
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) secretes at least five proteins. Two of these proteins, EspA and EspB (previously called EaeB), activate signal transduction pathways in host epithelial cells. While the role of the other three proteins (39, 40, and 110 kDa) remains undetermined, secretion of all five proteins is under the control of perA, a known positive regulator of several EPEC virulence factors. On the basis of amino-terminal protein sequence data, we cloned and sequenced the gene which encodes the 110-kDa secreted protein and examined its possible role in EPEC signaling and interaction with epithelial cells. In accordance with the terminology used for espA and espB, we called this gene espC, for EPEC-secreted protein C. We found significant homology between the predicted EspC protein sequence and a family of immunoglobulin A (IgA) protease-like proteins which are widespread among pathogenic bacteria. Members of this protein family are found in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (Tsh), Haemophilus influenzae (Hap), and Shigella flexneri (SepA). Although these proteins and EspC do not encode IgA protease activity, they have considerable homology with IgA protease from Neisseria gonorrhoeae and H. influenzae and appear to use a export system for secretion. We found that genes homologous to espC also exist in other pathogenic bacteria which cause attaching and effacing lesions, including Hafnia alvei biotype 19982, Citrobacter freundii biotype 4280, and rabbit diarrheagenic E. coli (RDEC-1). Although these strains secrete various proteins similar in molecular size to the proteins secreted by EPEC, we did not detect secretion of a 110-kDa protein by these strains. To examine the possible role of EspC in EPEC interactions with epithelial cells, we constructed a deletion mutant in espC by allelic exchange and characterized the mutant by standard tissue culture assays. We found that EspC is not necessary for mediating EPEC-induced signal transduction in HeLa epithelial cells and does not play a role in adherence or invasion of tissue culture cells.


This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Betancourt-Sanchez, M., Navarro-Garcia, F. (2009). Pet secretion, internalization and induction of cell death during infection of epithelial cells by enteroaggregative Escherichia coli. Microbiology 155: 2895-2906 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Hu, Y.-h., Liu, C.-s., Hou, J.-h., Sun, L. (2009). Identification, Characterization, and Molecular Application of a Virulence-Associated Autotransporter from a Pathogenic Pseudomonas fluorescens Strain. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 4333-4340 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Cookson, A. L., Bennett, J., Nicol, C., Thomson-Carter, F., Attwood, G. T. (2009). Molecular Subtyping and Distribution of the Serine Protease from Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli among Atypical Enteropathogenic E. coli Strains. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 2246-2249 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Salinger, N., Kokona, B., Fairman, R., Okeke, I. N. (2009). The Plasmid-Encoded Regulator Activates Factors Conferring Lysozyme Resistance on Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Strains. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 275-280 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Mellies, J. L., Barron, A. M. S., Carmona, A. M. (2007). Enteropathogenic and Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli Virulence Gene Regulation. Infect. Immun. 75: 4199-4210 [Full Text]  
  • Maroncle, N. M., Sivick, K. E., Brady, R., Stokes, F.-E., Mobley, H. L. T. (2006). Protease Activity, Secretion, Cell Entry, Cytotoxicity, and Cellular Targets of Secreted Autotransporter Toxin of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Infect. Immun. 74: 6124-6134 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Vidal, J. E., Navarro-Garcia, F. (2006). Efficient Translocation of EspC into Epithelial Cells Depends on Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Host Cell Contact. Infect. Immun. 74: 2293-2303 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sharma, R., Tesfay, S., Tomson, F. L., Kanteti, R. P., Viswanathan, V. K., Hecht, G. (2006). Balance of bacterial pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators dictates net effect of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli on intestinal epithelial cells. Am. J. Physiol. Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 290: G685-G694 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Mellies, J. L., Barron, A. M. S., Haack, K. R., Korson, A. S., Oldridge, D. A. (2006). The Global Regulator Ler Is Necessary for Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Colonization of Caenorhabditis elegans. Infect. Immun. 74: 64-72 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Gauthier, A., Robertson, M. L., Lowden, M., Ibarra, J. A., Puente, J. L., Finlay, B. B. (2005). Transcriptional Inhibitor of Virulence Factors in Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 49: 4101-4109 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Otto, B. R., Sijbrandi, R., Luirink, J., Oudega, B., Heddle, J. G., Mizutani, K., Park, S.-Y., Tame, J. R. H. (2005). Crystal Structure of Hemoglobin Protease, a Heme Binding Autotransporter Protein from Pathogenic Escherichia coli. J. Biol. Chem. 280: 17339-17345 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Lopes, L. M., Fabbricotti, S. H., Ferreira, A. J. P., Kato, M. A. M. F., Michalski, J., Scaletsky, I. C. A. (2005). Heterogeneity among Strains of Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli Isolated in Brazil. J. Clin. Microbiol. 43: 1968-1972 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Henderson, I. R., Navarro-Garcia, F., Desvaux, M., Fernandez, R. C., Ala'Aldeen, D. (2004). Type V Protein Secretion Pathway: the Autotransporter Story. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 68: 692-744 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Kostakioti, M., Stathopoulos, C. (2004). Functional Analysis of the Tsh Autotransporter from an Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Strain. Infect. Immun. 72: 5548-5554 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Navarro-Garcia, F., Canizalez-Roman, A., Sui, B. Q., Nataro, J. P., Azamar, Y. (2004). The Serine Protease Motif of EspC from Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Produces Epithelial Damage by a Mechanism Different from That of Pet Toxin from Enteroaggregative E. coli. Infect. Immun. 72: 3609-3621 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Patel, S. K., Dotson, J., Allen, K. P., Fleckenstein, J. M. (2004). Identification and Molecular Characterization of EatA, an Autotransporter Protein of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Infect. Immun. 72: 1786-1794 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Schmidt, H., Hensel, M. (2004). Pathogenicity Islands in Bacterial Pathogenesis. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 17: 14-56 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Parreira, V. R., Gyles, C. L. (2003). A Novel Pathogenicity Island Integrated Adjacent to the thrW tRNA Gene of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Encodes a Vacuolating Autotransporter Toxin. Infect. Immun. 71: 5087-5096 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sui, B. Q., Dutta, P. R., Nataro, J. P. (2003). Intracellular Expression of the Plasmid-Encoded Toxin from Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli. Infect. Immun. 71: 5364-5370 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Clarke, S. C., Haigh, R. D., Freestone, P. P. E., Williams, P. H. (2003). Virulence of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, a Global Pathogen. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 16: 365-378 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Dutta, P. R., Cappello, R., Navarro-Garcia, F., Nataro, J. P. (2002). Functional Comparison of Serine Protease Autotransporters of Enterobacteriaceae. Infect. Immun. 70: 7105-7113 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Turner, D. P. J., Wooldridge, K. G., Ala'Aldeen, D. A. A. (2002). Autotransported Serine Protease A of Neisseria meningitidis: an Immunogenic, Surface-Exposed Outer Membrane, and Secreted Protein. Infect. Immun. 70: 4447-4461 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Guyer, D. M., Radulovic, S., Jones, F.-E., Mobley, H. L. T. (2002). Sat, the Secreted Autotransporter Toxin of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli, Is a Vacuolating Cytotoxin for Bladder and Kidney Epithelial Cells. Infect. Immun. 70: 4539-4546 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Fink, D. L., Cope, L. D., Hansen, E. J., Geme, J. W. St. III (2001). The Hemophilus influenzae Hap Autotransporter Is a Chymotrypsin Clan Serine Protease and Undergoes Autoproteolysis via an Intermolecular Mechanism. J. Biol. Chem. 276: 39492-39500 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Deng, W., Li, Y., Vallance, B. A., Finlay, B. B. (2001). Locus of Enterocyte Effacement from Citrobacter rodentium: Sequence Analysis and Evidence for Horizontal Transfer among Attaching and Effacing Pathogens. Infect. Immun. 69: 6323-6335 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Mellies, J. L., Navarro-Garcia, F., Okeke, I., Frederickson, J., Nataro, J. P., Kaper, J. B. (2001). espC Pathogenicity Island of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Encodes an Enterotoxin. Infect. Immun. 69: 315-324 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Elliott, S. J., Sperandio, V., Giron, J. A., Shin, S., Mellies, J. L., Wainwright, L., Hutcheson, S. W., McDaniel, T. K., Kaper, J. B. (2000). The Locus of Enterocyte Effacement (LEE)-Encoded Regulator Controls Expression of Both LEE- and Non-LEE-Encoded Virulence Factors in Enteropathogenic and Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. Infect. Immun. 68: 6115-6126 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • St. Geme, J. W. III, Cutter, D. (2000). The Haemophilus influenzae Hia Adhesin Is an Autotransporter Protein That Remains Uncleaved at the C Terminus and Fully Cell Associated. J. Bacteriol. 182: 6005-6013 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Manjarrez-Hernandez, H. A., Gavilanes-Parra, S., Chavez-Berrocal, E., Navarro-Ocana, A., Cravioto, A. (2000). Antigen Detection in Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Using Secretory Immunoglobulin A Antibodies Isolated from Human Breast Milk. Infect. Immun. 68: 5030-5036 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Dozois, C. M., Dho-Moulin, M., Bree, A., Fairbrother, J. M., Desautels, C., Curtiss, R. III (2000). Relationship between the Tsh Autotransporter and Pathogenicity of Avian Escherichia coli and Localization and Analysis of the tsh Genetic Region. Infect. Immun. 68: 4145-4154 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Al-Hasani, K., Henderson, I. R., Sakellaris, H., Rajakumar, K., Grant, T., Nataro, J. P., Robins-Browne, R., Adler, B. (2000). The sigA Gene Which Is Borne on the she Pathogenicity Island of Shigella flexneri 2a Encodes an Exported Cytopathic Protease Involved in Intestinal Fluid Accumulation. Infect. Immun. 68: 2457-2463 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sandt, C. H., Hill, C. W. (2000). Four Different Genes Responsible for Nonimmune Immunoglobulin-Binding Activities within a Single Strain of Escherichia coli. Infect. Immun. 68: 2205-2214 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Henderson, I. R., Czeczulin, J., Eslava, C., Noriega, F., Nataro, J. P. (1999). Characterization of Pic, a Secreted Protease of Shigella flexneri and Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli. Infect. Immun. 67: 5587-5596 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Newman, J. V., Zabel, B. A., Jha, S. S., Schauer, D. B. (1999). Citrobacter rodentium espB Is Necessary for Signal Transduction and for Infection of Laboratory Mice. Infect. Immun. 67: 6019-6025 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Navarro-Garcia, F., Sears, C., Eslava, C., Cravioto, A., Nataro, J. P. (1999). Cytoskeletal Effects Induced by Pet, the Serine Protease Enterotoxin of Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli. Infect. Immun. 67: 2184-2192 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • DeVinney, R., Stein, M., Reinscheid, D., Abe, A., Ruschkowski, S., Finlay, B. B. (1999). Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 Produces Tir, Which Is Translocated to the Host Cell Membrane but Is Not Tyrosine Phosphorylated. Infect. Immun. 67: 2389-2398 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Stathopoulos, C., Provence, D. L., Curtiss, R. III (1999). Characterization of the Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli Hemagglutinin Tsh, a Member of the Immunoglobulin A Protease-Type Family of Autotransporters. Infect. Immun. 67: 772-781 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Abe, A., Heczko, U., Hegele, R. G., Brett Finlay, B. (1998). Two Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Type III Secreted Proteins, EspA and EspB, Are Virulence Factors. JEM 188: 1907-1916 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Otto, B. R., van Dooren, S. J.M., Nuijens, J. H., Luirink, J., Oudega, B. (1998). Characterization of a Hemoglobin Protease Secreted by the Pathogenic Escherichia coli Strain EB1. JEM 188: 1091-1103 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Eslava, C., Navarro-Garcia, F., Czeczulin, J. R., Henderson, I. R., Cravioto, A., Nataro, J. P. (1998). Pet, an Autotransporter Enterotoxin from Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli. Infect. Immun. 66: 3155-3163 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Feller, G., D'Amico, S., Benotmane, A. M., Joly, F., Van Beeumen, J., Gerday, C. (1998). Characterization of the C-terminal Propeptide Involved in Bacterial Wall Spanning of alpha -Amylase from the Psychrophile Alteromonas haloplanctis. J. Biol. Chem. 273: 12109-12115 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Beinke, C., Laarmann, S., Wachter, C., Karch, H., Greune, L., Schmidt, M. A. (1998). Diffusely Adhering Escherichia coli Strains Induce Attaching and Effacing Phenotypes and Secrete Homologs of Esp Proteins. Infect. Immun. 66: 528-539 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Nataro, J. P., Kaper, J. B. (1998). Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 11: 142-201 [Abstract] [Full Text]