title: Protein secretion systems in Mycobacteria.
abstract: Mycobacteria have a unique cell-envelope structure which protects the bacteria from the extracellular environment by limiting access to noxious molecules from the outside. This extremely hydrophobic and thick barrier also poses a unique problem for the export of bacterial products. Here we review the multiple protein secretion pathways in Mycobacteria, including the general secretion pathway and the Twin-Arginine Transporter, with an emphasis on the ESX-1 alternate secretion system. This newly identified protein secretion system is required for growth during infection and has provided insight into how M. tuberculosis manipulates the host immune response during infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Program in Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Defense, University of California, San Francisco, 600 16th Street, Campus Box 2200, San Francisco, CA 94143-2200, USA. Patricia.Champion@ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Patricia A DiGiuseppe
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Champion
authors.forename: Jeffery S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins