Molecular mechanism of suppression of T cell responses by Salmonella effector SteD
File(s)
Author(s)
Blundell, Samkeliso
Type
Thesis
Abstract
Salmonella enterica is an intracellular pathogen that resides within specialised vacuoles and creates a niche that enables its survival and replication. Salmonella achieves this by translocation of virulence proteins, effectors, into the host cell by a type 3 secretion system. One such effector, SteD, depletes surface levels of three immune receptors from infected dendritic cells - antigen-loaded MHC class II, CD97 and CD86 – by inducing their ubiquitination and subsequent lysosomal degradation. A genome-wide mutant screen identified two host proteins are required for this process: the HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2 and its adaptor the transmembrane protein TMEM127(Alix et al., 2020). Here I show that although TMEM127 has a PPxY motif it is unable to activate WWP2. In contrast, SteD is an Ndfip and can activate WWP2 in the presence of TMEM127. Therefore, SteD and TMEM127 are co-activators. However, SteD is a non-canonical Ndfip, as it requires the co- activating protein TMEM127, it does not have a canonical activating PPxY motif and interacts with the C2 domain of WWP2 and not the WW domains. Remarkably, SteD and TMEM127 together mimic how the mammalian Ndfip Dishevelled-2 activates WWP2. I also show that the canonical Ndfip NDFIP2 interacts with multiple WW domains of WWP2 and that interaction via multiple L/PPxY motifs of NDFIP2 is required for interaction with and activation of WWP2. Furthermore, I show that SUSD6 is an Ndfip with a single LPxY motif and although SUSD6 can interact with multiple WW domains of WWP2, it is a weak activator of WWP2. This work has expanded our knowledge of how Ndfips activate WWP2. To our knowledge, SteD is the first description of a bacterial protein that activates an E3 ubiquitin ligase and is another example of how a bacterial protein co-opts the host machinery to interfere with the host immunity.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2024-06
Date Awarded
2024-10
Copyright Statement
Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial Licence
License URL
Advisor
Holden, David
Thurston, Teresa
Grant Number
WDMM PS3502
Publisher Department
Department of Infectious Disease
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)