Small GTP-binding proteins of the Rho- and Ras-subfamilies are not involved in the actin rearrangements induced by attaching and effacing Escherichia coli.
Attaching and effacing Escherichia coli (AEEC) are extracellular pathogens that induce the formation of actin-rich structures at their sites of attachment to eukaryotic host cells. We analysed whether small GTP-binding proteins of the Rho- and Ras-subfamilies, which control the cellular actin system, are essential for these bacterial-induced microfilament reorganizations. For this purpose we specifically inactivated them using the Clostridium difficile toxins TcdB-10463 and TcdB-1470. Such treatment led to a dramatic breakdown of the normal actin cytoskeleton, but did not abrogate the bacterial-induced actin rearrangements. Our data therefore indicate that the microfilament reorganizations induced by AEEC are independent of those small GTP-binding proteins that under normal conditions control the dynamics and maintenance of the actin cytoskeleton.
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, Germany. frank.ebel@mikrobio.med.uni-giessen.de
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Ebel
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von Eichel-Streiber
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Rohde
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Chakraborty
D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D022603:Shiga Toxins; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D000199:Actins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D022603:Shiga Toxins; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D018631:ras Proteins