Translocated intimin receptor and its chaperone interact with ATPase of the type III secretion apparatus of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Few interactions have been reported between effectors and components of the type III secretion apparatus, although many interactions have been demonstrated between type III effectors and their cognate chaperones. It is thought that chaperones may play a role in directing effectors to the type III secretion apparatus. The ATPase FIR in the flagellar assembly apparatus plays a pivotal role in interacting with other components of the apparatus and with substrates of the flagellar system. We performed experiments to determine if there were any interactions between the effector Tir and its chaperone CesT and the type III secretion apparatus of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). Specifically, based on analogies with the flagella system, we examined Tir-CesT interactions with the putative ATPase EscN. We showed by affinity chromatography that EscN and Tir bind CesT specifically. Tir is not necessary for CesT and EscN interactions, and EscN binds Tir specifically without its chaperone CesT. Moreover, Tir directly binds EscN, as shown via gel overlay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and coimmunoprecipitation experiments revealed that Tir interacts with EscN inside EPEC. These data provide evidence for direct interactions between a chaperone, effector, and type III component in the pathogenic type III secretion system and suggest a model for Tir translocation whereby its chaperone, CesT, brings Tir to the type III secretion apparatus by specifically interacting with the type III ATPase EscN.