Broad degradation of proapoptotic proteins with the conserved Bcl-2 homology domain 3 during infection with Chlamydia trachomatis

Infect Immun. 2005 Mar;73(3):1399-403. doi: 10.1128/IAI.73.3.1399-1403.2005.

Abstract

Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria that can inhibit apoptosis of their host cell. As shown recently, this inhibition is in part explained by the proteolytic degradation of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members (BH3-only proteins) Bim, Puma, and Bad upon chlamydial infection. In this study, we further explore this antiapoptotic mechanism. In cells infected with a Chlamydia trachomatis L2 strain, Bim, Puma, and Bad were degraded with similar kinetics, and the degradation of all three was blocked by inhibition of the proteasome. Furthermore, the BH3-only proteins Bmf, Noxa, and tBid were also targeted by chlamydial infection. The constitutively expressed Bmf disappeared during infection. When Noxa was experimentally induced, the levels were also reduced by infection with C. trachomatis. In death-receptor-induced apoptosis, cleaved and activated tBid was degraded, and this destruction was also prevented by inhibition of the proteasome. These results show that chlamydial infection leads to a broad degradation of BH3-only proteins. This loss of proapoptotic factors can explain the almost general protection of infected cells against apoptotic stimuli.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Apoptosis*
  • BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / pathogenicity*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism
  • bcl-Associated Death Protein

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • BAD protein, human
  • BBC3 protein, human
  • BCL2L11 protein, human
  • BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein
  • BID protein, human
  • BMF protein, human
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • PMAIP1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • bcl-Associated Death Protein