title: Antibiotic targeting of the bacterial secretory pathway.
abstract: Finding new, effective antibiotics is a challenging research area driven by novel approaches required to tackle unconventional targets. In this review we focus on the bacterial protein secretion pathway as a target for eliminating or disarming pathogens. We discuss the latest developments in targeting the Sec-pathway for novel antibiotics focusing on two key components: SecA, the ATP-driven motor protein responsible for driving preproteins across the cytoplasmic membrane and the Type I signal peptidase that is responsible for the removal of the signal peptide allowing the release of the mature protein from the membrane. We take a bird's-eye view of other potential targets in the Sec-pathway as well as other Sec-dependent or Sec-independent protein secretion pathways as targets for the development of novel antibiotics. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein trafficking and secretion in bacteria. Guest Editors: Anastassios Economou and Ross Dalbey.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology, Rega Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, O&N1, 6th floor, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 1037, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: smitharaocv@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Smitha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rao C V
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology, Rega Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, O&N1, 6th floor, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 1037, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: evelien.dewaelheyns@rega.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Evelien
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Waelheyns
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology, Rega Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, O&N1, 6th floor, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 1037, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, FORTH, University of Crete, P.O. Box 1385, GR-711 10 Iraklio, Crete, Greece; Department of Biology, University of Crete, P.O. Box 1385, GR-71110 Iraklio, Crete, Greece. Electronic address: tassos.economou@rega.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Anastassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology, Rega Institute, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, O&N1, 6th floor, Herestraat 49, P.O. Box 1037, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: jozef.anne@rega.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anné
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals / Q000187:drug effects; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D000069816:SEC Translocation Channels; D000081416:SecA Proteins; D055571:Secretory Pathway / Q000187:drug effects*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D000069816:SEC Translocation Channels; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; C026515:type I signal peptidase; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D000081416:SecA Proteins
keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotic target; Protein secretion inhibitor; SecA; Signal peptidase