A sophisticated multi-step secretion mechanism: how the type 3 secretion system is regulated.

Barison, Nicola; Gupta, Rashmi; Kolbe, Michael

Many Gram-negative pathogens utilize type 3 secretion systems ( T3 SSs) for a successful infection. The T3 SS is a large macromolecular complex which spans both bacterial membranes and delivers effector proteins into the host cell. The infection requires spatiotemporal control of diverse sets of secreted effectors and various mechanisms have evolved to regulate T3 SS in response to external stimuli. This review will describe mechanisms that may control type 3 secretion, revealing a multi-step regulatory strategy. We then propose an updated model of T3 SS that illustrates different stages of secretion and integrates the most recent structural and functional data.

PATHOGENIC microorganisms; GRAM-negative bacterial diseases; BACTERIAL cell walls; MACROMOLECULES; AVERSIVE stimuli; SPATIOTEMPORAL processes; DATA analysis

Cellular Microbiology, 2013, Vol 15, Issue 11, p1809

1462-5814

Academic Journal

10.1111/cmi.12178