title: Structural dissection of the extracellular moieties of the type III secretion apparatus.
abstract: Many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens use type III secretion systems (TTSSs) for subverting the normal cellular functions of their target eukaryotic cells. The type III secretion apparatus (TTSA) functions like a syringe to inject proteins through an external needle and into a target cell's membrane and cytosol. The TTSA basal body spans the bacterial inner and outer membranes, and the external needle is topped with a tip complex that controls the secretion and delivery of translocator and effector proteins. Recently solved structures of TTSA proteins have greatly advanced our understanding of shared themes in apparatus assembly and function. In this highlight, the structure-function of TTSA needle and tip complex proteins are described and common themes discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wendy L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Picking
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Picking
authors.forename: Roberto N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: De Guzman
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins