Open AccessA bacterial pore‐forming toxin forms aggregates in cells that resemble those associated with neurodegenerative diseases
Author(s) -
Viala Julie P. M.,
Mochegova Sofia N.,
MeyerMorse Nicole,
Portnoy Daniel A.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2007.01100.x
Subject(s) - listeriolysin o , biology , listeria monocytogenes , cytosol , pore forming toxin , microbiology and biotechnology , toxin , protein aggregation , intracellular , intracellular parasite , transport protein , compartment (ship) , phagosome , microbial toxins , bacteria , biochemistry , listeria , genetics , oceanography , geology , enzyme
Summary Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial, facultative intracellular pathogen, which secretes a pore‐forming toxin called listeriolysin O (LLO). LLO mediates the dissolution of the phagosomal membrane allowing L. monocytogenes to reach and grow in the host cytosolic compartment. In this study we report the localization of LLO secreted in infected cells. We described that LLO (i) forms small perinuclear aggregates, (ii) accumulates in large autophagosome‐like structures and (iii) sequesters to large protein aggregates. The formation of protein aggregates required full LLO activity. Further characterization of protein aggregates indicated that they not only contained the active form of LLO but also polyubiquitinated proteins and p62, which are both common components of protein aggregates found in neurological diseases. Hence, a protein of bacterial origin could potentially follow the same fate as a toxic protein associated with neurodegenerative disease.