Chlamydia trachomatis species-specific induction of ezrin tyrosine phosphorylation functions in pathogen entry.

ABSTRACT: Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular pathogen of humans that exhibits species-specific biological characteristics in its early interactions with host cells that are likely important to pathogenesis. One such characteristic is the tyrosine phosphorylation (Tyr-P) of an approximately 70-kDa polypeptide that occurs only after infection of mammalian cells by human strains. We sought to identify this protein because of its potential significance to the pathogenesis of human chlamydial infections. Using an immunoproteomic approach we identified the host protein ezrin, a member of the ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM) protein family that serves as a physical link between host cell receptors and the actin cytoskeleton. Confocal microscopy studies showed colocalization of ezrin and actin at

SUBMITTER: Swanson KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2168331 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature