The Chlamydia trachomatis type III-secreted effector protein CteG induces centrosome amplification through interactions with centrin-2

Brianna Steiert, Carolina M. Icardi, Robert Faris, Paige N. McCaslin, Parker Smith, Aloysius J. Klingelhutz, Peter M. Yau, Mary M. Weber

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The centrosome is the main microtubule organizing center of the cell and is crucial for mitotic spindle assembly, chromosome segregation, and cell division. Centrosome duplication is tightly controlled, yet several pathogens, most notably oncogenic viruses, perturb this process leading to increased centrosome numbers. Infection by the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis (C.t.) correlates with blocked cytokinesis, supernumerary centrosomes, and multipolar spindles; however, the mechanisms behind how C.t. induces these cellular abnormalities remain largely unknown. Here we show that the secreted effector protein, CteG, binds to centrin-2 (CETN2), a key structural component of centrosomes and regulator of centriole duplication. Our data indicate that both CteG and CETN2 are necessary for infection-induced centrosome amplification, in a manner that requires the C-terminus of CteG. Strikingly, CteG is important for in vivo infection and growth in primary cervical cells but is dispensable for growth in immortalized cells, highlighting the importance of this effector protein to chlamydial infection. These findings begin to provide mechanistic insight into how C.t. induces cellular abnormalities during infection, but also indicate that obligate intracellular bacteria may contribute to cellular transformation events. Centrosome amplification mediated by CteG–CETN2 interactions may explain why chlamydial infection leads to an increased risk of cervical or ovarian cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere2303487120
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume120
Issue number20
DOIs
StatePublished - May 16 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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