title: The Type VI Secretion System in Escherichia coli and Related Species.
abstract: The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a multiprotein complex widespread in Proteobacteria and dedicated to the delivery of toxins into both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. It thus participates in interbacterial competition as well as pathogenesis. The T6SS is a contractile weapon, related to the injection apparatus of contractile tailed bacteriophages. Basically, it assembles an inner tube wrapped by a sheath-like structure and anchored to the cell envelope via a membrane complex. The energy released by the contraction of the sheath propels the inner tube through the membrane channel and toward the target cell. Although the assembly and the mechanism of action are conserved across species, the repertoire of secreted toxins and the diversity of the regulatory mechanisms and of target cells make the T6SS a highly versatile secretion system. The T6SS is particularly represented in Escherichia coli pathotypes and Salmonella serotypes. In this review we summarize the current knowledge regarding the prevalence, the assembly, the regulation, and the roles of the T6SS in E. coli, Salmonella, and related species.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires (LISM), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée (IMM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - Aix-Marseille Université, UMR 7255, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Journet
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires (LISM), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée (IMM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - Aix-Marseille Université, UMR 7255, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cascales
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport; D002462:Cell Membrane; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012475:Salmonella / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D000069376:Type VI Secretion Systems / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D000069376:Type VI Secretion Systems