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Infection and Immunity, November 1999, p. 5587-5596, Vol. 67, No. 11
0019-9567/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Characterization of Pic, a Secreted Protease of Shigella flexneri and Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli

Ian R. Henderson,1,* John Czeczulin,1 Carlos Eslava,2 Fernando Noriega,1 and James P. Nataro1

Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201,1 and Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, UNAM, 04510 Mexico DF, Mexico2

Received 2 June 1999/Returned for modification 29 July 1999/Accepted 10 August 1999

We have identified and characterized a secreted protein, designated Pic, which is encoded on the chromosomes of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) 042 and Shigella flexneri 2457T. The product of the pic gene is synthesized as a 146.5-kDa precursor molecule which is processed at the N and C termini during secretion, allowing the release of a mature protein (109.8 kDa) into the culture supernatant. The deduced amino acid sequence of Pic shows high homology to autotransporter proteins, particularly a subgroup termed the SPATEs (serine protease autotransporters of the Enterobacteriaceae). Present in all members of this subgroup is a motif similar to the active sites of certain serine proteases. Pic catalyzes gelatin degradation, which can be abolished by disruption of the predicted proteolytic active site. Functional analysis of the Pic protein implicates this factor in mucinase activity, serum resistance, and hemagglutination. Our data suggest that Pic may be a multifunctional protein involved in enteric pathogenesis.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201. Phone: (410) 706-7376. Fax: (410) 706-6205. E-mail: ihenders{at}umaryland.edu.

Infection and Immunity, November 1999, p. 5587-5596, Vol. 67, No. 11
0019-9567/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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Copyright © 1999 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.