Legionella pneumophila secretes a mitochondrial carrier protein during infection

PLoS Pathog. 2012 Jan;8(1):e1002459. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002459. Epub 2012 Jan 5.

Abstract

The Mitochondrial Carrier Family (MCF) is a signature group of integral membrane proteins that transport metabolites across the mitochondrial inner membrane in eukaryotes. MCF proteins are characterized by six transmembrane segments that assemble to form a highly-selective channel for metabolite transport. We discovered a novel MCF member, termed Legionellanucleotide carrier Protein (LncP), encoded in the genome of Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaire's disease. LncP was secreted via the bacterial Dot/Icm type IV secretion system into macrophages and assembled in the mitochondrial inner membrane. In a yeast cellular system, LncP induced a dominant-negative phenotype that was rescued by deleting an endogenous ATP carrier. Substrate transport studies on purified LncP reconstituted in liposomes revealed that it catalyzes unidirectional transport and exchange of ATP transport across membranes, thereby supporting a role for LncP as an ATP transporter. A hidden Markov model revealed further MCF proteins in the intracellular pathogens, Legionella longbeachae and Neorickettsia sennetsu, thereby challenging the notion that MCF proteins exist exclusively in eukaryotic organisms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Secretion Systems / physiology*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Genetic Complementation Test
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Legionella pneumophila / genetics
  • Legionella pneumophila / metabolism*
  • Legionella pneumophila / pathogenicity
  • Legionnaires' Disease / genetics
  • Legionnaires' Disease / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neorickettsia sennetsu / genetics
  • Neorickettsia sennetsu / metabolism
  • Neorickettsia sennetsu / pathogenicity
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Secretion Systems
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Adenosine Triphosphate