SummaryRhizobium sp. NGR234 nodulates many plants, some of which react to proteins secreted via a type three secretion system (T3SS) in a positive-( Flemingia congesta , Tephrosia vogelii ) or negative-( Crotalaria juncea , Pachyrhizus tuberosus ) manner. T3SSs are devices that Gram-negative bacteria use to inject effector proteins into the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. The only two rhizobial T3SS effector proteins characterized to date are NopL and NopP of NGR234. NopL can be phosphorylated by plant kinases and we show this to be true for NopP as well. Mutation of nopP leads to a dramatic reduction in nodule numbers on F. congesta and T. vogelii . Concomitant mutation of nopL and nopP further diminishes nodulation capacity to levels that, on T. vogelii , are lower than those produced by the T3SS null mutant NGR W W W W rhcN . We also show that the T3SS of NGR234 secretes at least one additional effector, which remains to be identified. In other words, NGR234 secretes a cocktail of effectors, some of which have positive effects on nodulation of certain plants while others are perceived negatively and block nodulation. NopL and NopP are two components of this mix that extend the ability of NGR234 to nodulate certain legumes.
Bacterial effector proteins delivered into eukaryotic cells via bacterial type III secretion systems are important virulence factors in plant-pathogen interactions. Type III secretion systems have been found in Rhizobium species that form symbiotic, nitrogen-fixing associations with legumes. One such bacterium, Rhizobium sp. NGR234, secretes a number of type III effectors, including nodulation outer protein L (NopL, formerly y4xL). Here, we show that expression of nopL in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) prevents full induction of pathogenesis-related (PR) defense proteins. Transgenic tobacco plants that express nopL and were infected with potato virus Y (necrotic strain 605) exhibited only very low levels of chitinase (class I) and -1,3-glucanase (classes I and III) proteins. Northern-blot analysis indicated that expression of nopL in plant cells suppresses transcription of PR genes. Treatment with ethylene counteracted the effect of NopL on chitinase (class I). Transgenic Lotus japonicus plants that expressed nopL exhibited delayed development and low chitinase levels. In vitro experiments showed that NopL is a substrate for plant protein kinases. Together, these data suggest that NopL, when delivered into the plant cell, modulates the activity of signal transduction pathways that culminate in activation of PR proteins.Plants have evolved many defenses against invading pathogens. Among them are preformed antimicrobial compounds, as well as inducible defense proteins, the so-called pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins (van Loon, 1997). It has been shown, for example, that pathogen-induced chitinases (EC 3.2.1.14) and -1,3-glucanases (EC 3.2.1.39) synergistically lyse fungal cell walls (Mauch et al., 1988). Specific recognition of pathogens often induces a hypersensitive response, which is characterized by an oxidative burst and localized death of the host cells. In most cases, the induction of a hypersensitive response arrests invasion by the pathogen (Dangl and Jones, 2001).Virulence in gram-negative bacteria often depends on proteins injected into eukaryotic cells. Some bacteria elaborate a specialized protein secretion apparatus, the type III secretion system (TTSS). The TTSS exports a set of proteins from the bacteria, some of which are delivered directly into the eukaryotic cells-a process called translocation (Cornelis and van Gijsegem, 2000;Plano et al., 2001). Most translocated type III effectors act on the cytoskeleton or interfere with intracellular signaling cascades of the host cell. Yersinia pestis, for example, injects at least six type III effectors into host cells, where they thwart the signaling machinery of the immune system (Cornelis, 2002). Plant pathogens such as Pseudomonas syringae and Xanthomonas campestris also use TTSSs (Kjemtrup et al., 2000; Lahaye and Bonas, 2001). Mounting evidence suggests that type III effectors translocated into plant cells (Casper-Lindley et al., 2002;Szurek et al., 2002) act as virulence factors in susceptible hosts. One likely function of type III effectors is ...
The US is currently experiencing an epidemic of methamphetamine (Meth) use as a recreational drug. Recent studies also show a high prevalence of HIV-1 infection among Meth users. We report that Meth enhances HIV-1 infectivity of dendritic cells as measured by multinuclear activation of a galactosidase indicator (MAGI) cell assay, p24 assay, and LTR-RU5 amplification. Meth induces increased HIV-1 infection in association with an increase in the HIV-1 coreceptors, CXCR4 and CCR5, and infection is mediated by downregulation of extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK2) and the upregulation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). A p38 inhibitor (SB203580) specifically reversed the Meth-induced upregulation of the CCR5 HIV-1 coreceptor. The dopamine D2 receptor antagonist RS ± sulpiride significantly reversed the Meth-induced upregulation of CCR5, demonstrating that the Meth-induced effect is mediated via the D2 receptor. These studies report for the first time that Meth fosters HIV-1 infection, potentially via upregulating coreceptor gene expression. Further, Meth mediates its regulatory effects via dopamine receptors and via downregulating ERK2 with a reciprocal upregulation of p38 MAPK. Elucidation of the role of Meth in HIV-1 disease susceptibility and the mechanism through which Meth mediates its effects on HIV-1 infection may help to devise novel therapeutic strategies against HIV-1 infection in high-risk Meth-using HIV-1-infected subjects.
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