The needle length of bacterial injectisomes is determined by a molecular ruler.
Size determination represents a fundamental requirement for multicomponent biological structures. Some pathogenic bacteria possess a weapon derived from the flagellum. Like the flagellum, this type-III secretion apparatus, called the injectisome, has a transmembrane basal body, but the external component is a needle-like structure instead of a hook and a filament. Here, we provide evidence that the length of this needle is determined by the size of a protein, YscP, acting as a molecular ruler.
Journet
Laure
L
Biozentrum, Universität Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
Agrain
Céline
C
Broz
Petr
P
Cornelis
Guy R
GR
D000483:Alleles; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005407:Flagella / Q000737:chemistry; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009154:Mutation; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C099486:FliK protein, Bacteria; C479925:YscP protein, Yersinia enterocolitica