Mechanism of Rab1b deactivation by the Legionella pneumophila GAP LepB

EMBO Rep. 2013 Feb;14(2):199-205. doi: 10.1038/embor.2012.211. Epub 2013 Jan 4.

Abstract

Legionella pneumophila is an intracellularly surviving pathogen that releases about 270 different proteins into the host cell during infection. A set of secreted proteins takes control of the vesicular trafficking regulator Rab1. Legionella LepB inactivates Rab1 by acting as a GTPase-activating protein (GAP). We present the crystal structure of the Rab1b:LepB complex together with a thorough biochemical analysis and show that the GAP domain of LepB consists of an unusual fold. LepB acts by an atypical RabGAP mechanism that is reminiscent of classical GAPs and therefore sets the protein apart from mammalian TBC-like GAPs. Surprisingly, LepB can function as a GAP for Rab3, Rab8, Rab13 and Rab35, too, suggesting that it has a broader cellular role than previously thought.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Guanosine Triphosphate / chemistry
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Hydrolysis
  • Legionella pneumophila / enzymology*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • rab1 GTP-Binding Proteins / chemistry*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • LepB protein, Legionella pneumophila
  • Guanosine Triphosphate
  • Rab1B protein, human
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rab1 GTP-Binding Proteins

Associated data

  • PDB/4I1M
  • PDB/4I1O