Identification and characterization of SpcU, a chaperone required for efficient secretion of the ExoU cytotoxin.

ABSTRACT: In recent studies, we have shown that Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains that are acutely cytotoxic in vitro damage the lung epithelium in vivo. Genetic analysis indicated that the factor responsible for acute cytotoxicity was controlled by ExsA and therefore was part of the exoenzyme S regulon. The specific virulence determinant responsible for epithelial damage in vivo and cytotoxicity in vitro was subsequently mapped to the exoU locus. The present studies are focused on a genetic characterization of the exoU locus. Northern blot analyses and complementation experiments indicated that a region downstream of exoU was expressed and that the expression of this region corresponded to increased ExoU secretion. DNA sequence analysis of a region downstream of exoU identified several potential codin

SUBMITTER: Finck-Barbancon V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC107707 | biostudies-literature | 1998 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature