A specific secretion system mediates PPE41 transport in pathogenic mycobacteria

Summary Mycobacterial genomes contain two unique gene families, the so‐called PE and PPE gene families, which are highly expanded in the pathogenic members of this genus. Here we report that one of the PPE proteins, i.e. PPE41, is secreted by pathogenic mycobacteria, both in culture and in infected...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular microbiology 2006-11, Vol.62 (3), p.667-679
Main Authors: Abdallah, Abdallah M., Verboom, Theo, Hannes, Fredericke, Safi, Mohamad, Strong, Michael, Eisenberg, David, Musters, René J. P., Vandenbroucke‐Grauls, Christina M. J. E., Appelmelk, Ben J., Luirink, Joen, Bitter, Wilbert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antigens, Bacterial - genetics
Antigens, Bacterial - metabolism
Bacteria
Bacterial Proteins - genetics
Bacterial Proteins - metabolism
Biological and medical sciences
Cells, Cultured
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genes
Humans
Macrophages - microbiology
Microbiology
Multigene Family
Mutation
Mycobacterium - pathogenicity
Mycobacterium - physiology
Mycobacterium marinum
Mycobacterium smegmatis
Pathogens
Protein Transport
Proteins
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Summary:Summary Mycobacterial genomes contain two unique gene families, the so‐called PE and PPE gene families, which are highly expanded in the pathogenic members of this genus. Here we report that one of the PPE proteins, i.e. PPE41, is secreted by pathogenic mycobacteria, both in culture and in infected macrophages. As PPE41 lacks a signal sequence a dedicated secretion system must be involved. A single gene was identified in Mycobacterium marinum that showed strongly reduced PPE41 secretion. This gene was located in a gene cluster whose predicted proteins encode components of an ESAT‐6‐like secretion system. This cluster, designated ESX‐5, is conserved in various pathogenic mycobacteria, but not in the saprophytic species Mycobacterium smegmatis. Therefore, different regions of this cluster were introduced in M. smegmatis. Only introduction of the complete ESX‐5 locus resulted in efficient secretion of heterologously expressed PPE41. This PPE secretion system is also involved in the virulence of pathogenic mycobacteria, as the ESX‐5 mutant of M. marinum was affected in spreading to uninfected macrophages.
ISSN:0950-382X
1365-2958
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2958.2006.05409.x