Premium
Helicobacter pylori toxin VacA induces vacuole formation by acting in the cell cytosol
Author(s) -
De Bernard Marina,
Arico' Beatrice,
Papini Emanuele,
Rizzuto Rosario,
Grandi Guido,
Rappuoli Rino,
Montecucco Cesare
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.1997.5881952.x
Subject(s) - vacuole , biology , cytosol , toxin , intracellular , endocytic cycle , microbiology and biotechnology , transfection , cytoplasm , cell , biochemistry , endocytosis , gene , enzyme
Cells exposed to Helicobacter pylori toxin VacA develop large vacuoles that originate from massive swelling of membranous compartments of late stages of the endocytic pathway. To determine if the toxin is active from the cell cytosol, cells were either microinjected with toxin or transfected with plasmids encoding VacA. Both procedures cause formation of intracellular vacuoles. Cytosolic localization of the toxin was assessed by indirect immunofluorescence with specific antibodies and by expression of an active green fluorescence protein (GFP)–VacA chimera. Vacuoles induced by internally produced VacA are morphologically and functionally identical to those induced by externally added toxin. It is concluded that VacA is a toxin acting intracellularly by altering a cytosol‐exposed target, possibly involved in the control of membrane trafficking.