TitleBeyond Tryptophan Synthase: Identification of Genes That Contribute to Chlamydia trachomatis Survival during Gamma Interferon-Induced Persistence and Reactivation.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsMuramatsu, MK, Brothwell, JA, Stein, BD, Putman, TE, Rockey, DD, Nelson, DE
JournalInfect Immun
Volume84
Issue10
Pagination2791-801
Date Published2016 10
ISSN1098-5522
KeywordsAmino Acid Transport Systems, Cell Proliferation, Chlamydia trachomatis, DNA Repair, HeLa Cells, Humans, Interferon-gamma, Mutation, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Tryptophan Synthase
Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis can enter a viable but nonculturable state in vitro termed persistence. A common feature of C. trachomatis persistence models is that reticulate bodies fail to divide and make few infectious progeny until the persistence-inducing stressor is removed. One model of persistence that has relevance to human disease involves tryptophan limitation mediated by the host enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, which converts l-tryptophan to N-formylkynurenine. Genital C. trachomatis strains can counter tryptophan limitation because they encode a tryptophan-synthesizing enzyme. Tryptophan synthase is the only enzyme that has been confirmed to play a role in interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-induced persistence, although profound changes in chlamydial physiology and gene expression occur in the presence of persistence-inducing stressors. Thus, we screened a population of mutagenized C. trachomatis strains for mutants that failed to reactivate from IFN-γ-induced persistence. Six mutants were identified, and the mutations linked to the persistence phenotype in three of these were successfully mapped. One mutant had a missense mutation in tryptophan synthase; however, this mutant behaved differently from previously described synthase null mutants. Two hypothetical genes of unknown function, ctl0225 and ctl0694, were also identified and may be involved in amino acid transport and DNA damage repair, respectively. Our results indicate that C. trachomatis utilizes functionally diverse genes to mediate survival during and reactivation from persistence in HeLa cells.

DOI10.1128/IAI.00356-16
Alternate JournalInfect Immun
PubMed ID27430273
PubMed Central IDPMC5038056
Grant ListR01 AI099278 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R56 AI099278 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States