[SapM-induced fusion blocking of autophagosome-lysosome is depended on interaction with Rab7].

Objective To study the role of Rab7 in the blockage of autophagosome-lysosome fusion induced by secretory acid phosphatase (SapM), a virulence factor of mycobacterium tuberculosis. Methods The Raw264.7 cells were transfected with siRab7, and the P62 was detected using Western blotting. After transfected with mCherry-SapM, the co-localization of SapM and Rab7 in Raw264.7 cells was detected by immunofluorescence cytochemistry and the interaction of SapM with Rab7 was determined by co-immunoprecipitation. SapM mutants including SapM(δ ARCA), SapM(δ FRED) and SapM(δ CT) were used to transfect Raw264.7 cells, and their associations with Rab7 were analyzed. Results The treatment of siRab7 induced a significant increase of P62 in these cells. Immunofluorescence cytochemistry showed the intracellular co-localization of SapM and Rab7. Co-immunoprecipitation showed that SapM and Rab7 were precipitated by each other. Only SapM(δ CT) failed to interact with Rab7 among the three SapM mutants. Conclusion The inhibition of autophagosome-lysosome fusion induced by SapM is dependent on the interaction between SapM and Rab7.