Function of the Yersinia virulence factor YopM

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 104322853

Yersiniae inject several effector proteins (Yops) into cells of the host immune system, which modulate their function and enable the bacteria to survive in the host organism. While the function of most of the effector proteins has largely been defined, the effect of YopM on the host cell has remained elusive. However, YopM was shown to be one of the most important Yops for in vivo virulence. In our own preliminary studies new interacting partners of YopM in addition to the established associated proteins could be identified. One of the newly identified interaction partners is a protein, which participates in several aspects of RNA metabolism and represents a new target of the immune modulating activities of Yersinia. Its interaction with YopM points towards a new and unexpected intracellular action of YopM. The planned studies outlined below may not only give new insights into the role of YopM in yersiniae virulence but may also reveal new mechanisms of cellular immunity.