Legionella remodels the plasma membrane–derived vacuole by utilizing exocyst components as tethers

Abstract

During the initial stage of infection, Legionella pneumophila secretes effectors that promote the fusion of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–derived vesicles with the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV). This fusion leads to a remodeling of the plasma membrane (PM)–derived LCV into a specialized ER-like compartment that supports bacterial replication. Although the effector DrrA has been shown to activate the small GTPase Rab1, it remains unclear how DrrA promotes the tethering of host vesicles with the LCV. Here, we show that Sec5, Sec15, and perhaps Sec6, which are subunits of the exocyst that functions in the tethering of exocytic vesicles with the PM, are required for DrrA-mediated, ER-derived vesicle recruitment to the PM-derived LCV. These exocyst components were found to interact specifically with a complex containing DrrA, and the loss of Sec5 or Sec15 significantly suppressed the recruitment of ER-derived vesicles to the LCV and inhibited intracellular replication of Legionella. Importantly, Sec15 is recruited to the LCV, and Rab1 activation is necessary for this recruitment.