Abstract:[Objective] To study biochemical functions of the Legionella pneumophila eukaryotic-like effector protein LegK3,the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as an alternative host in which growth defect induced by the ectopic expression of LegK3 was assessed. [Methods] Using genomic DNA of the L. pneumophila strain Lp02 as template,we respectively amplified and inserted the ORF sequences of legK3,ralF or lidA into the plasmid pESC-HK to yield the ectopic-expression plasmids. Then,the recombination plasmids were transformed into the yeast strain W301-1A.With 2% -galactose induction,growth defect and carboxypeptidase Y (CPY) delay were determined simultaneously. In parallel,total yeast proteins before or after induction were extracted and subjected to Immunoblot assay. For detecting the expression of effector proteins or determining CPY delay,anti-c-myc or anti-PGK/anti-CPY antibodies were utilized respectively.[Results]The expression of LegK3 resulted in visible growth defect in yeast cells,together with obvious retard in CPY processing.[Conclusion]L.pneumophila eukaryotic-like effector LegK3 might target and interfere with the vesicle-trafficking pathways,thereby to inhibit the growth and division of host cells.