Translocation of neisserial alpha-proteins into mammalian cells.
Published: 2006
Language: eng
Number of pages: 104
ISBN-13: 9780494160633
Description: Neisserial alpha-proteins are the domains of immunoglobulin A protease precursor that are co-secreted with IgA protease into the extracellular space. The alpha-proteins of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain MS 11 (Ng) and Neisseria meningitidis strain Z2491 (Nm) were used for the investigation addressing these questions and the results are reported here. Cellular uptake assays indicated that a fusion protein consisting of Nm and the fluorescent protein Venus (VNm) had a higher efficiency of translocation and nuclear localization in HeLa cells than Venus tagged Ng (VNg). The mechanism of transduction for Nm alpha-proteins is temperature- and energy-independent; however, nuclear localization for VNm is both temperature- and energy-dependent and requires the binding of the nuclear transport adaptor karyopherin-alpha. As alpha-proteins are conserved during evolution and have characteristic properties, it is conceivable that they play a specific role in the survival mechanisms employed by Neisseria pathogens in the host cells.
Notes: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 44-06, page: 2802.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2006.

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