RSC Publishing


Publishing

 

Cover image for Molecular BioSystems, select for current issue

Molecular BioSystems

Research at the interface between chemistry and the -omic sciences and systems biology.



Subscribers

  • PDF
  • HTML article

Non-subscribers

Free access



Highlight

Mol. BioSyst., 2008, 4, 1176 - 1180, DOI: 10.1039/b808271p

Structural dissection of the extracellular moieties of the type III secretion apparatus

Yu Wang, Lingling Zhang, Wendy L. Picking, William D. Picking and Roberto N. De Guzman

Many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens use type III secretion systems (TTSSs) for subverting the normal cellular functions of their target eukaryotic cells. The type III secretion apparatus (TTSA) functions like a syringe to inject proteins through an external needle and into a target cells membrane and cytosol. The TTSA basal body spans the bacterial inner and outer membranes, and the external needle is topped with a tip complex that controls the secretion and delivery of translocator and effector proteins. Recently solved structures of TTSA proteins have greatly advanced our understanding of shared themes in apparatus assembly and function. In this highlight, the structure–function of TTSA needle and tip complex proteins are described and common themes discussed.

Graphical abstract image for this article (ID: b808271p)