Type III secretion chaperones of Pseudomonas syringae protect effectors from Lon‐associated degradation

• Published in: Molecular microbiology Vol. 55; no. 3; pp. 941 - 953
• Main Authors: Losada, Liliana C., Hutcheson, Steven W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01.02.2005; Blackwell Science; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Bacteria; Bacterial Proteins - chemistry; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Molecular Chaperones - metabolism; Nicotiana - microbiology; Pathogens; Plant Diseases - microbiology; Plant Leaves - microbiology; Protease La - metabolism; Proteins; Pseudomonas syringae; Pseudomonas syringae - genetics; Pseudomonas syringae - metabolism; Pseudomonas syringae - pathogenicity; Sigma Factor - metabolism; Pseudomonadales; Microbiology; Pseudomonas syringae; Secretion; Chaperone; Bacteria; Pseudomonadaceae; Protein
• ISSN: 0950-382X; 1365-2958
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2004.04438.x

Summary The hrp type III secretion system (TTSS) of Pseudomonas syringae translocates effector proteins into the cytoplasm of host cells. Proteolysis of HrpR by Lon has been shown to negatively regulate the hrp TTSS. The inability to bypass Lon‐associated effects on the regulatory system by ectopic expression of the known regulators suggested a second site of action for Lon in TTSS‐dependent effector secretion. In this study we report that TTSS‐dependent effectors are subject to the proteolytic degradation that appears to be rate‐limiting to secretion. The half‐lives of the effectors AvrPto, AvrRpt2, HopPsyA, HopPsyB1, HopPtoB2, HopPsyV1, HopPtoG and HopPtoM were substantially higher in bacteria lacking Lon. TTSS‐dependent secretion of several effectors was enhanced from Lon mutants. A primary role for chaperones  appears  to  be  protection  of  effectors  from Lon‐associated degradation prior to secretion. When coexpressed with their cognate chaperone, HopPsyB1, HopPsyV1 and HopPtoM were at least 10 times more stable in strains expressing Lon. Distinct Lon‐targeting and chaperone‐binding domains were identified in HopPtoM. The results imply that Lon is involved at two distinct levels in the regulation of the P. syringae TTSS: regulation of assembly of the secreton and modulation of effector secretion.