title: Purpose of recently detected inhibitory domain of the Helicobacter pylori protein CagA.
abstract: Helicobacter pylori infection is the most common bacterial infection worldwide and is strongly associated with gastric oncogenesis. Recently, we discovered that the H. pylori protein CagA, a risk factor for carcinogenesis, consists of two distinct membrane-targeting domains. The C-terminal membrane-binding domain induces host cell responses associated with a high oncogenic potential. The N-terminal membrane-targeting domain, however, localizes to a different membrane substructure at the site of newly formed cell-cell contacts thereby diminishing the effects of C-terminal signaling motifs on host cell physiology. This inhibitory function may allow H. pylori to establish a colonization niche in the host by maintaining the host epithelial architecture and thus decreasing the oncogenic potential as a side effect. From a bacterial standpoint, however, its main purpose maybe is to translocate the CagA protein via the type IV secretion apparatus into host epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steininger
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pelz
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vogelmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018988:Bacterial Translocation; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021381:Protein Transport
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori