Conclusions
We have demonstrated that YopT recognizes the prenylated Rho GTPases (RhoA, Rac and Cdc42) in the host cell and executes a proteolytic cleavage at the C termini of the GTPases. This cleavage leads to the removal of the prenylated cysteine on the GTPases, which results in the membrane detachment of the GTPases. The model of YopT action is depicted in Figure 1. The proteolytic activity towards Rho GTPases described here is responsible for its known cytotoxicity. In addition, the proteolytic triad (C 139, H2598 and D274) is conserved in the entire YopT family of bacterial virulence factors, suggesting that the YopT defines a novel family of cysteine protease functioning in bacterial pathogenesis.
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Shao, F., Dixon, J.E. (2004). YopT Is a Cysteine Protease Cleaving Rho Family GTPases. In: Skurnik, M., Bengoechea, J.A., Granfors, K. (eds) The Genus Yersinia. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 529. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48416-1_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48416-1_14
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