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Published online 16 April 2001.
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© The Rockefeller University Press, 0022-1007/2001/4/935/ $5.00
The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Volume 193, Number 8, April 16, 2001 935-942


Original Article

Identification of a Chlamydial Protease–like Activity Factor Responsible for the Degradation of Host Transcription Factors

Guangming Zhonga, Peiyi Fana, Hezhao Jib, Feng Donga, and Yanqing Huanga
a Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229
b Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E OW3, Canada

Correspondence to: Guangming Zhong, Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX 78229. Tel:210-567-1169 Fax:210-567-0293 E-mail:zhongg{at}uthscsa.edu.

Microbial pathogens have been selected for the capacity to evade or manipulate host responses in order to survive after infection. Chlamydia, an obligate intracellular pathogen and the causative agent for many human diseases, can escape T lymphocyte immune recognition by degrading host transcription factors required for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen expression. We have now identified a chlamydial protease– or proteasome–like activity factor (CPAF) that is secreted into the host cell cytosol and that is both necessary and sufficient for the degradation of host transcription factors RFX5 and upstream stimulation factor 1 (USF-1). The CPAF gene is highly conserved among chlamydial strains, but has no significant overall homology with other known genes. Thus, CPAF represents a unique secreted protein produced by an obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen to interfere with effective host adaptive immunity.

Key Words: chlamydial enzyme, degradation, transcription factors, antigen presentation, immune evasion


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