Clostridium perfringens TpeL Induces Formation of Stress Fibers via Activation of RhoA-ROCK Signaling Pathway

Biol Pharm Bull. 2015;38(5):732-9. doi: 10.1248/bpb.b14-00842.

Abstract

Clostridium perfringens TpeL belongs to a family of large clostridial glucosylating cytotoxins. TpeL modifies Rac1 and Ras subfamily proteins. Herein we report TpeL-induced formation of stress fibers via RhoA-Rho kinase (ROCK) signaling. A recombinant protein (TpeL1-525) derived from the TpeL N-terminal catalytic domain in the presence of streptolysin O (SLO) induced the formation of actin stress fibers in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells in a dose-dependent manner. The RhoA/ROCK pathway is known to control the formation of stress fibers. We examined the role of the RhoA/ROCK pathway in TpeL-induced formation of stress fibers. TpeL1-525-induced formation of stress fibers was inhibited by the ROCK inhibitor, Y27632 and Rho protein inhibitor, C3 transferase. TpeL1-525 activated RhoA and ROCK in a dose-dependent manner. C3 transferase blocked TpeL1-525-induced activation of RhoA and ROCK whereas Y27632 inhibited TpeL-induced activation of ROCK. These results demonstrate for the first time that TpeL induces the formation of stress fibers by activating the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Amides / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Toxins / pharmacology*
  • Clostridium Infections / metabolism*
  • Clostridium perfringens / metabolism
  • Clostridium perfringens / pathogenicity*
  • Dogs
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stress Fibers / metabolism*
  • Transferases / pharmacology
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • ras Proteins / metabolism
  • rho-Associated Kinases / metabolism*
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Actins
  • Amides
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Pyridines
  • Y 27632
  • Transferases
  • rho-Associated Kinases
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein
  • ras Proteins
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein