# Characterization of c-Src During Listeria monocytogenes Cell-to-Cell Spreading

## TL;DR

This study shows that the protein c-Src helps Listeria monocytogenes spread between cells by aiding in the formation of membrane structures.

## Contribution

The study reveals that c-Src is crucial for Listeria monocytogenes cell-to-cell spreading through its role in invaginations.

## Key findings

- c-Src is enriched at invaginations formed during Listeria monocytogenes cell-to-cell spreading.
- Mutant c-Src either increases or decreases the bacteria's ability to spread between cells.
- c-Src plays a key role in caveolin-mediated endocytosis during bacterial spreading.

## Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes replicates within host cells and spreads from cell to cell using actin-based motility. Cell-to-cell movement of L. monocytogenes is achieved by creating actin-rich membrane protrusions (listeriopods), which generate corresponding invaginations in adjacent cells through caveolin-mediated endocytosis. We show that c-Src, a multifunctional tyrosine kinase, is enriched at invaginations and is crucial for efficient cell-to-cell spreading of the bacteria as cells expressing c-Src mutants that were either constitutively active or those that impeded the function of c-Src resulted in significantly more (or less) cell-to-cell spreading. This work demonstrates the importance of c-Src in influencing L. monocytogenes’ ability to spread intercellularly.

This study describes the role of c-Src at Listeria monocytogenes-generated invaginations and its impact on cell-to-cell spreading of the bacteria.