Open AccessRibU is an essential determinant of Listeria pathogenesis that mediates acquisition of FMN and FAD during intracellular growth
Author(s) -
Rafael RiveraLugo,
S.H. Light,
Nicholas E Garelis,
Daniel A. Portnoy
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2122173119
Subject(s) - riboflavin , flavin group , auxotrophy , flavin adenine dinucleotide , flavin mononucleotide , cofactor , biology , biochemistry , mutant , microbiology and biotechnology , intracellular , b vitamins , listeria monocytogenes , flavoprotein , bacteria , gene , enzyme , genetics , endocrinology
Significance Riboflavin (vitamin B2 ) is converted into flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), which are essential cofactors for many redox reactions across all domains of life.Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular pathogen that cannot synthesize riboflavin and must therefore obtain flavins from the host. In this study, we show that a previously identified riboflavin transporter (RibU) is essential for virulence and intracellular growth, but rather than transporting riboflavin, RibU transports FMN and FAD directly from the host cell cytosol. Mutants unable to convert riboflavin to FMN and FAD retained their capacity to grow intracellularly and were virulent, but they were unable to grow extracellularly and were thus converted from facultative to obligate intracellular pathogens.