Exoenzyme S from P. aeruginosa ADP ribosylates rab4 and inhibits transferrin recycling in SLO-permeabilized reticulocytes.

ADP-ribosylation of rab proteins by exoenzyme S (Exo S) of P. aeruginosa was studied using reticulocytes. 14-3-3 protein, the eukaryotic cofactor that is obligatory for Exo S activity, was found in association with reticulocyte endocytic vesicles and exosomes, vesicles previously shown to be enriched with rab4. Incubation of purified endocytic vesicles with Exo S triggered rab4 ADP-ribosylation. Transferrin recycling in SLO-permeabilized reticulocytes was highly impaired when Exo S was added to the cells, suggesting that ADP-ribosylation affected rab4 function. Moreover, in vitro ADP-ribosylation of different rab proteins was studied using the cofactor activity extracted from reticulocytes.