Hpt, a bacterial homolog of the microsomal glucose- 6-phosphate translocase, mediates rapid intracellular proliferation in Listeria.

ABSTRACT: Efficient replication in vivo is essential for a microparasite to colonize its host and the understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which microbial pathogens grow within host tissues can lead to the discovery of novel therapies to treat infection. Here we present evidence that the foodborne bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, a facultative intracellular parasite, exploits hexose phosphates (HP) from the host cell as a source of carbon and energy to fuel fast intracellular growth. HP uptake is mediated by Hpt, a bacterial homolog of the mammalian translocase that transports glucose-6-phosphate from the cytosol into the endoplasmic reticulum in the final step of gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis. Expression of the Hpt permease is tightly controlled by the central virulence regul

SUBMITTER: Chico-Calero I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC117577 | biostudies-literature | 2002 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature