Figure 4
From: The EHEC-host interactome reveals novel targets for the translocated intimin receptor
Topological characteristics of EHEC effector – host protein interactions.
(a) Counting the number of EHEC effector – host protein interactions, we found that the vast majority of host proteins were targeted by one EHEC effector protein. Such an observation resembles targets of viruses and bacteria. (b) We calculated the enrichment of targeted proteins as a function of their numbers of interaction partners in a human interaction network. Focusing on targets of viruses and bacteria, respectively, targeted host proteins were predominately enriched in groups of highly connected proteins. In comparison, targets of EHEC effector proteins showed a significantly reinforced enrichment signal. (c) Proteins that were targeted by EHEC effector proteins had shorter paths to other human proteins than the corresponding targets of bacteria and viruses (Student's t-test, p < 10−30). (d) We determined the enrichment of targeted proteins as a function of their appearance in different protein complexes. In comparison to bacterial and viral targets EHEC effector proteins interact with host proteins that occurred in an increasing number of complexes.
