Secretion of virulence determinants by the general secretory pathway in gram-negative pathogens: an evolving story.
Secretion of proteins by the general secretory pathway (GSP) is a two-step process requiring the Sec translocase in the inner membrane and a separate substrate-specific secretion apparatus for translocation across the outer membrane. Gram-negative bacteria with pathogenic potential use the GSP to deliver virulence factors into the extracellular environment for interaction with the host. Well-studied examples of virulence determinants using the GSP for secretion include extracellular toxins, pili, curli, autotransporters, and crystaline S-layers. This article reviews our current understanding of the GSP and discusses examples of terminal branches of the GSP which are utilized by factors implicated in bacterial virulence.
Stathopoulos
C
C
Department of Biology, Washington University, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Hendrixson
D R
DR
Thanassi
D G
DG
Hultgren
S J
SJ
St Geme
J W
JW
Curtiss
R
R
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000378:metabolism; D000069816:SEC Translocation Channels; D000081416:SecA Proteins; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014774:Virulence
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D000069816:SEC Translocation Channels; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; C100181:pullulanase; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D000081416:SecA Proteins