Breaking the bacterial protein targeting and translocation model: oral organisms as a case in point.
Insights into the membrane biogenesis of oral and throat bacteria have highlighted key differences in protein localization by the general secretion pathway compared with the well-studied Escherichia coli model system. These intriguing novelties have advanced our understanding of both how these microorganisms have adapted to survive and cause disease in the oral cavity, and the field of protein translocation as a whole. This review focuses on findings that highlight where oral bacteria differ from the E. coli paradigm, why these differences are biologically important, and what questions remain about the differences in pathway function. The majority of insight into protein translocation in microbes of the oral cavity has come from streptococcal species, which will be the main topic of this review. However, other bacteria will be discussed when relevant. An overview of the E. coli model of protein targeting and translocation is provided for comparison.
Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
N E
NE
Lewis
L J
LJ
Brady
D058947:Bacterial Secretion Systems; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology; D021381:Protein Transport; D018271:Signal Recognition Particle / Q000378:metabolism*
D058947:Bacterial Secretion Systems; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D018271:Signal Recognition Particle; C412443:YIDC protein, E coli
membrane biogenesis; protein secretion; signal recognition particle; targeting; translocation; transport