A Novel Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate Binding Domain Mediates Plasma Membrane Localization of ExoU and Other Patatin-like Phospholipases

Gregory H Tyson,Andrei S Halavaty,Hyunjin Kim,Brett Geissler,Mallory Agard,Karla J Satchell,Wonhwa Cho,Wayne F Anderson,Alan R Hauser

doi:10.1074/jbc.m114.611251

Gregory H Tyson, Andrei S Halavaty + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m114.611251

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Abstract

Bacterial toxins require localization to specific intracellular compartments following injection into host cells. In this study, we examined the membrane targeting of a broad family of bacterial proteins, the patatin-like phospholipases. The best characterized member of this family is ExoU, an effector of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa type III secretion system. Upon injection into host cells, ExoU localizes to the plasma membrane, where it uses its phospholipase A2 activity to lyse infected cells. The targeting mechanism of ExoU is poorly characterized, but it was recently found to bind to the phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2), a marker for the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells. We confirmed that the membrane localization domain (MLD) of ExoU had a direct affinity for PI(4,5)P2, and we determined that this binding was required for ExoU localization. Previously uncharacterized ExoU homologs from Pseudomonas fluorescens and Photorhabdus asymbiotica also localized to the plasma membrane and required PI(4,5)P2 for this localization. A conserved arginine within the MLD was critical for interaction of each protein with PI(4,5)P2 and for localization. Furthermore, we determined the crystal structure of the full-length P. fluorescens ExoU and found that it was similar to that of P. aeruginosa ExoU. Each MLD contains a four-helical bundle, with the conserved arginine exposed at its cap to allow for interaction with the negatively charged PI(4,5)P2. Overall, these findings provide a structural explanation for the targeting of patatin-like phospholipases to the plasma membrane and define the MLD of ExoU as a member of a new class of PI(4,5)P2 binding domains.

Highlights

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytotoxin ExoU localizes to the plasma membrane in eukaryotic cells
We demonstrate that ExoU localizes to the plasma membrane through direct binding of the membrane localization domain (MLD) to PI[4,5]P2
We extended these findings to patatin-like phospholipases of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Photorhabdus asymbiotica, demonstrating that the MLD of ExoU is a domain used by proteins of other bacterial genera and species to target the plasma membrane

Summary

Background

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa cytotoxin ExoU localizes to the plasma membrane in eukaryotic cells. We demonstrate that ExoU localizes to the plasma membrane through direct binding of the MLD to PI[4,5]P2 We extended these findings to patatin-like phospholipases of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Photorhabdus asymbiotica, demonstrating that the MLD of ExoU is a domain used by proteins of other bacterial genera and species to target the plasma membrane. This structure was used along with the previously determined structure of P. aeruginosa ExoU to show that the four-helical bundle is conserved within the MLD and is positioned to expose a conserved positively charged arginine residue to interact with the negatively charged phosphate groups of PI[4,5]P2 in the plasma membrane These results define a novel PI[4,5]P2 binding domain used by bacterial proteins to target the plasma membrane of host cells

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

RESULTS

DISCUSSION