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Science 10 November 2006:
Vol. 314. no. 5801, pp. 985 - 989
DOI: 10.1126/science.1133174
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Reports

Microtubule-Severing Activity of Shigella Is Pivotal for Intercellular Spreading

Sei Yoshida,1,4 Yutaka Handa,1,4 Toshihiko Suzuki,1,4 Michinaga Ogawa,1,4 Masato Suzuki,1,4 Asuka Tamai,5 Akio Abe,5 Eisaku Katayama,2 Chihiro Sasakawa1,3,4*

Some pathogenic bacteria actually invade the cytoplasm of their target host cells. Invasive bacteria acquire the propulsive force to move by recruiting actin and inducing its polymerization. Here we show that Shigella movement within the cytoplasm was severely hindered by microtubules and that the bacteria destroyed surrounding microtubules by secreting VirA by means of the type III secretion system. Degradation of microtubules by VirA was dependent on its {alpha}-tubulin–specific cysteine protease–like activity. virA mutants did not move within the host cytoplasm and failed to move into adjacent cells.

1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1, Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.
2 Department of Basic Medical Sciences, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1, Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.
3 Department of Infectious Control, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1, Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.
4 CREST, Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST). 4-1-8, Honche, Kawaguchi-shi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.
5 Laboratory of Bacterial Infection, Kitasato Institute for Life Science, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: sasakawa{at}ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp

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THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Molecular Pathogenesis of Shigella spp.: Controlling Host Cell Signaling, Invasion, and Death by Type III Secretion.
G. N. Schroeder and H. Hilbi (2008)
Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 21, 134-156
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Flagella Facilitate Escape of Salmonella from Oncotic Macrophages.
G.-i. Sano, Y. Takada, S. Goto, K. Maruyama, Y. Shindo, K. Oka, H. Matsui, and K. Matsuo (2007)
J. Bacteriol. 189, 8224-8232
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Type III Secretion Systems and Disease.
B. Coburn, I. Sekirov, and B. B. Finlay (2007)
Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 20, 535-549
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)