title: Structural and functional studies indicate that Shigella VirA is not a protease and does not directly destabilize microtubules.
abstract: VirA, an essential virulence factor in Shigella disease pathogenesis, is involved in the uptake, motility, and cell-to-cell spread of Shigella organisms within the human host. These functions have been attributed to a VirA protease activity and a mechanism of microtubule destruction via tubulin degradation [Yoshida, S., et al. (2006) Science 314, 985-989]. We report functional and crystallographic data indicating a novel VirA structure that lacks these activities but highlights the homology to the EspG virulence factor of pathogenic Escherichia coli.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 461 Preston Research Building, 2220 Pierce Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Germane
authors.forename: Ryoma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ohi
authors.forename: Marcia B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: Benjamin W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Spiller