Insertion of the bacterial type III translocon: not your average needle stick.
Bacterial type III secretion systems are thought to translocate virulence proteins directly from the bacterial cytoplasm into host cells through a continuous molecular channel. Little is known about how the apparatus itself interacts with membranes and whether insertion of this structure into the host membrane has consequences for the bacteria apart from its beneficial role in delivering virulence proteins. New evidence suggests that membrane insertion of the bacterial type III apparatus might turn on a calcium-dependent signaling pathway resulting in phagolysosomal fusion.
Coombes
Brian K
BK
Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3.
Finlay
B Brett
BB
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000502:physiology; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; D002118:Calcium