Glutamine Deamidation and Dysfunction of Ubiquitin/NEDD8 Induced by a Bacterial Effector Family

Gee-Up, NEDD8 Diverse bacterial pathogens, such as Burkholderia pseudomallei and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), inject effector proteins into eukaryotic host cells to subvert host cell biology. Cui et al. (p. 1215 ; published online 5 August) show that certain bacterial effector proteins promoted the glutamine deamidation of ubiquitin and the ubiquitin-related protein, NEDD8. The modification of ubiquitin inhibited the formation of polyubiquitin chains while, unexpectedly, the same chemical alteration on NEDD8 interfered with the cell cycle, offering insights not only into the cytopathic effects of bacterial infection but also into mechanisms that may operate during viral infection and cancer.