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Cytotoxic necrotizing factors (CNFs) encompass a class of autotransporter toxins produced by uropathogenic E. coli (CNF1) or Y. pseudotuberculosis (CNFy). CNF toxins deamidate and thereby constitutively activate RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42. In this study, the effects of CNF1 on cell-matrix adhesion are analysed using functional cell-adhesion assays. CNF1 strongly increased cell-matrix binding of suspended Hela cells and decreased the susceptibly of cells to trypsin-induced cell detachment. Increased cell-matrix binding was also observed upon treatment of Hela cells with isomeric CNFy, that specifically deamidates RhoA. Increased cellmatrix binding thus appears to depend on RhoA deamidation. In contrast, increased cell spreading was specifically observed upon CNF1 treatment, suggesting that it rather depended on Rac1/Cdc42 deamidation. Increased cell-matrix adhesion is further presented to result in reduced cell migration of adherent cells. In contrast, migration of suspended cells was not affected upon treatment with CNF1 or CNFy. CNF1 and CNFy thus reduced cell migration specifically under the condition of pre-established cell-matrix adhesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] E. coli cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 induces expression of the cell death-regulating GTPase RhoB. [•] RhoB expression is based on transcriptional activation and involves Rac1-c-Myc signaling. [•] RhoB suppresses cell cycle progression and cell death in CNF1-treated cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]