Structure-Function Analysis of the TssL Cytoplasmic Domain Reveals a New Interaction between the Type VI Secretion Baseplate and Membrane Complexes.
The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a multiprotein complex that delivers toxin effectors in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. It is constituted of a long cytoplasmic structure-the tail-made of stacked Hcp hexamers and wrapped by a contractile sheath. Contraction of the sheath propels the inner tube capped by the VgrG spike protein toward the target cell. This tubular structure is built onto an assembly platform-the baseplate-that is composed of the TssEFGK-VgrG subunits. During the assembly process, the baseplate is recruited to a trans-envelope complex comprising the TssJ outer membrane lipoprotein and the TssL and TssM inner membrane proteins. This membrane complex serves as a docking station for the baseplate/tail and as a channel for the passage of the inner tube during sheath contraction. The baseplate is recruited to the membrane complex through multiple contacts including interactions of TssG and TssK with the cytoplasmic loop of TssM and of TssK with the cytoplasmic domain of TssL, TssLCyto. Here, we show that TssLCytointeracts also with the TssE baseplate subunit. Based on the available TssLCytostructures, we targeted conserved regions and specific features of TssLCytoin enteroaggregative Escherichia coli. By using bacterial two-hybrid analysis and co-immunoprecipitation, we further show that the disordered L3-L4 loop is necessary to interact with TssK and that the L6-L7 loop mediates the interaction with TssE, whereas the TssM cytoplasmic loop binds the conserved groove of TssLCyto. Finally, competition assays demonstrated that these interactions are physiologically important for T6SS function.
Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires (LISM, UMR 7255), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée (IMM), Aix-Marseille Univ. - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France.
Abdelrahim
A
Zoued
Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires (LISM, UMR 7255), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée (IMM), Aix-Marseille Univ. - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France.
Chloé J
CJ
Cassaro
Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires (LISM, UMR 7255), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée (IMM), Aix-Marseille Univ. - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France.
Eric
E
Durand
Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB, UMR 6098), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Campus de Luminy, Case 932, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France; Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB, UMR 6098), Aix-Marseille Univ., Campus de Luminy, Case 932, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France.
Badreddine
B
Douzi
Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires (LISM, UMR 7255), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée (IMM), Aix-Marseille Univ. - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France.
Alexandre P
AP
España
Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB, UMR 6098), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Campus de Luminy, Case 932, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France; Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB, UMR 6098), Aix-Marseille Univ., Campus de Luminy, Case 932, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France.
Christian
C
Cambillau
Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires (LISM, UMR 7255), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée (IMM), Aix-Marseille Univ. - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France.
Laure
L
Journet
Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Systèmes Macromoléculaires (LISM, UMR 7255), Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée (IMM), Aix-Marseille Univ. - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France. Electronic address: cascales@imm.cnrs.fr.
Eric
E
Cascales
D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D011485:Protein Binding; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D020798:Two-Hybrid System Techniques; D000069376:Type VI Secretion Systems / Q000378:metabolism*
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C573566:TssL protein, E coli; D000069376:Type VI Secretion Systems
baseplate complex; loops; membrane complex; protein–protein interaction; type VI secretion