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Intracellular multiplication of Legionella pneumophila depends on host cell amino acid transporter SLC1A5
Author(s) -
Wieland Hagen,
Ullrich Susanne,
Lang Florian,
Neumeister Birgid
Publication year - 2005
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2005.04490.x
Subject(s) - legionella pneumophila , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , intracellular , intracellular parasite , amino acid transporter , amino acid , bacteria , biochemistry , transporter , gene , genetics
Summary The infectious agent of Legionnaires’ disease, Legionella (L) pneumophila , multiplies intracellularly in eukaryotic cells. This study has been performed to explore the nutrient requirements of L. pneumophila during intracellular replication. In human monocytes, bacterial replication rate was reduced by 76% in defined medium lacking l ‐cysteine, l ‐glutamine or l ‐serine. SLC1A5 (hATB 0,+ ), a neutral amino acid transporter, was upregulated in the host cells after infection with L. pneumophila . Inhibition of SLC1A5 by BCH, a competitive inhibitor of amino acid uptake as well as siRNA silencing of the slc1a5 gene blocked intracellular multiplication of L. pneumophila without compromising viability of host cells. These observations suggest that replication of L. pneumophila depends on the function of host cell SLC1A5.