The E2-like conjugation enzyme Atg3 promotes binding of IRG and Gbp proteins to Chlamydia- and Toxoplasma-containing vacuoles and host resistance.
Cell-autonomous immunity to the bacterial pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis and the protozoan pathogen Toxoplasma gondii is controlled by two families of Interferon (IFN)-inducible GTPases: Immunity Related GTPases (IRGs) and Guanylate binding proteins (Gbps). Members of these two GTPase families associate with pathogen-containing vacuoles (PVs) and solicit antimicrobial resistance pathways specifically to the intracellular site of infection. The proper delivery of IRG and Gbp proteins to PVs requires the autophagy factor Atg5. Atg5 is part of a protein complex that facilitates the transfer of the ubiquitin-like protein Atg8 from the E2-like conjugation enzyme Atg3 to the lipid phosphatidylethanolamine. Here, we show that Atg3 expression, similar to Atg5 expression, is required for IRG and Gbp proteins to dock to PVs. We further demonstrate that expression of a dominant-active, GTP-locked IRG protein variant rescues the PV targeting defect of Atg3- and Atg5-deficient cells, suggesting a possible role for Atg proteins in the activation of IRG proteins. Lastly, we show that IFN-induced cell-autonomous resistance to C. trachomatis infections in mouse cells depends not only on Atg5 and IRG proteins, as previously demonstrated, but also requires the expression of Atg3 and Gbp proteins. These findings provide a foundation for a better understanding of IRG- and Gbp-dependent cell-autonomous resistance and its regulation by Atg proteins.
Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America.
Arun K
AK
Haldar
Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America.
Anthony S
AS
Piro
Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America.
Danielle M
DM
Pilla
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
Masahiro
M
Yamamoto
Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America.
Jörn
J
Coers
D000818:Animals; D000071187:Autophagy-Related Protein 5; D000071183:Autophagy-Related Proteins; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D060467:Disease Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
C495773:Atg5 protein, mouse; D000071187:Autophagy-Related Protein 5; D000071183:Autophagy-Related Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D044763:Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; C568853:Atg3 protein, mouse