Discovery of an archetypal protein transport system in bacterial outer membranes

Selkrig, J. et al. (2012) Discovery of an archetypal protein transport system in bacterial outer membranes. Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, 19(5), pp. 506-510. (doi: 10.1038/nsmb.2261)

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Abstract

Bacteria have mechanisms to export proteins for diverse purposes, including colonization of hosts and pathogenesis. A small number of archetypal bacterial secretion machines have been found in several groups of bacteria and mediate a fundamentally distinct secretion process. Perhaps erroneously, proteins called 'autotransporters' have long been thought to be one of these protein secretion systems. Mounting evidence suggests that autotransporters might be substrates to be secreted, not an autonomous transporter system. We have discovered a new translocation and assembly module (TAM) that promotes efficient secretion of autotransporters in proteobacteria. Functional analysis of the TAM in Citrobacter rodentium, Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli showed that it consists of an Omp85-family protein, TamA, in the outer membrane and TamB in the inner membrane of diverse bacterial species. The discovery of the TAM provides a new target for the development of therapies to inhibit colonization by bacterial pathogens.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Mosbahi, Dr Khedidja and Walker, Professor Daniel
Authors: Selkrig, J., Mosbahi, K., Webb, C.T., Belousoff, M.J., Perry, A.J., Wells, T.J., Morris, F., Leyton, D.L., Totsika, M., Phan, M.-D., Celik, N., Kelly, M., Oates, C., Hartland, E.L., Robins-Browne, R.M., Ramarathinam, S.H., Purcell, A.W., Schembri, M.A., Strugnell, R.A., Henderson, I.R., Walker, D., and Lithgow, T.
Subjects:Q Science > QR Microbiology
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:Nature Structural and Molecular Biology
Publisher:Nature Publishing Group
ISSN:1545-9993
ISSN (Online):1545-9985
Published Online:01 April 2012

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