The Yersinia pestis autotransporter YapC mediates host cell binding, autoaggregation and biofilm formation.
YapC, a putative Yersinia pestis autotransporter protein, shows strong homology to the enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli adhesin TibA. As a potentially important surface protein of Y. pestis, we analysed YapC for several activities. When expressed in the non-pathogenic Fim(-) E. coli strain AAEC185, YapC mediated attachment to both murine-derived macrophage-like cells (RAW264.7) and human-derived epithelial-like cells (HEp-2). In addition, expression of YapC on the surface of E. coli led to autoaggregation in DMEM tissue culture medium, a phenomenon associated with virulence in Yersinia species. YapC also mediated formation of biofilm-like deposits by E. coli AAEC185. Deletion of yapC in Y. pestis strain KIM5 resulted in no change in adhesion to either RAW264.7 or HEp-2 cells, or in biofilm formation. Lack of a phenotype for the Y. pestis DeltayapC mutant may reflect the relatively low level of yapC expression in vitro, as assessed by RT-PCR, and/or redundant functions expressed in vitro. These data demonstrate several activities for YapC that may function during Y. pestis infection.
Felek
Suleyman
S
Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078, USA.
Lawrenz
Matthew B
MB
Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Krukonis
Eric S
ES
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0620, USA.|Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078, USA.
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002460:Cell Line; D003470:Culture Media; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; C081814:pH 6 antigen, Yersinia