Revisiting Bacterial Ubiquitin Ligase Effectors: Weapons for Host Exploitation

Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Nov 13;19(11):3576. doi: 10.3390/ijms19113576.

Abstract

Protein ubiquitylation plays a central role in eukaryotic cell physiology. It is involved in several regulatory processes, ranging from protein folding or degradation, subcellular localization of proteins, vesicular trafficking and endocytosis to DNA repair, cell cycle, innate immunity, autophagy, and apoptosis. As such, it is reasonable that pathogens have developed a way to exploit such a crucial system to enhance their virulence against the host. Hence, bacteria have evolved a wide range of effectors capable of mimicking the main players of the eukaryotic ubiquitin system, in particular ubiquitin ligases, by interfering with host physiology. Here, we give an overview of this topic and, in particular, we detail and discuss the mechanisms developed by pathogenic bacteria to hijack the host ubiquitination system for their own benefit.

Keywords: T3SS; T4SS; ubiquitin ligase.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Type III Secretion Systems / genetics
  • Type III Secretion Systems / metabolism*
  • Type IV Secretion Systems / genetics
  • Type IV Secretion Systems / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Type III Secretion Systems
  • Type IV Secretion Systems
  • Ubiquitin
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases