CagA

"Helicobacter pylori" virulence factor CagA (cytotoxin-associated gene A) is a 120–145kDa protein encoded on the 40kb "cag" pathogenicity island (PAI). "H. pylori" strains can be divided into CagA positive or negative strains. Approximately 60% of "H. pylori" strains isolated in Western countries carry "cag" PAI, whereas almost all of the East Asian isolates are "cag" PAI-positive
The "cag" PAI also encodes for a type 4 secretion system which is used to "inject" CagA into a target cell upon "H. pylori" attachment. After translocation, CagA localises to the inner surface of the cell membrane and undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation by Src family kinases (e.g. Fyn and Lyn).
Role in Cancer.
"H. pylori" infection is associated with MALT lymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma and CagA is thought to be involved in cancer development. Phosphorylated CagA is able to interact with the SHP-2 tyrosine phosphatase, rendering it functionally active, triggering a host cell morphological change to a more motile phenotype known as the "hummingbird phenotype". This phenotype mimics an effect produced by hepatocyte growth factor which may participate in various aspects of cancer, including metastasis.
CagA is also a highly antigenic protein that is associated with a prominent inflammatory response by eliciting interleukin-8 production.