TitleCytokinesis is blocked in mammalian cells transfected with Chlamydia trachomatis gene CT223.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsAlzhanov, DT, Weeks, SK, Burnett, JR, Rockey, DD
JournalBMC Microbiol
Volume9
Pagination2
Date Published2009 Jan 05
ISSN1471-2180
KeywordsBacterial Proteins, Cell Line, Centrosome, Chlamydia Infections, Chlamydia trachomatis, Cytokinesis, Cytosol, Gene Expression Regulation, Genes, Bacterial, HeLa Cells, Humans, Phenotype, Protein Transport, Transfection
Abstract

BACKGROUND: The chlamydiae alter many aspects of host cell biology, including the division process, but the molecular biology of these alterations remains poorly characterized. Chlamydial inclusion membrane proteins (Incs) are likely candidates for direct interactions with host cell cytosolic proteins, as they are secreted to the inclusion membrane and exposed to the cytosol. The inc gene CT223 is one of a sequential set of orfs that encode or are predicted to encode Inc proteins. CT223p is localized to the inclusion membrane in all tested C. trachomatis serovars.

RESULTS: A plasmid transfection approach was used to examine the function of the product of CT223 and other Inc proteins within uninfected mammalian cells. Fluorescence microscopy was used to demonstrate that CT223, and, to a lesser extent, adjacent inc genes, are capable of blocking host cell cytokinesis and facilitating centromere supranumeracy defects seen by others in chlamydiae-infected cells. Both phenotypes were associated with transfection of plasmids encoding the carboxy-terminal tail of CT223p, a region of the protein that is likely exposed to the cytosol in infected cells.

CONCLUSION: These studies suggest that certain Inc proteins block cytokinesis in C. trachomatis-infected cells. These results are consistent with the work of others showing chlamydial inhibition of host cell cytokinesis.

DOI10.1186/1471-2180-9-2
Alternate JournalBMC Microbiol
PubMed ID19123944
PubMed Central IDPMC2657910
Grant ListAI42869 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
AI48769 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States