Type III secretion: the bacteria-eukaryotic cell express.

Mota LJ; Sorg I; Cornelis GR

doi:10.1016/j.femsle.2005.08.036

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Journal article

Type III secretion: the bacteria-eukaryotic cell express.

Mota LJ Biozentrum der Universität Basel, Biozentrum, Klingelbergstrasse, 50-70 CH4051 Basel, Switzerland.
Sorg I
Cornelis GR

2005-10-12

Published in:

FEMS microbiology letters. - 2005

Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial

Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections

English Type III secretion (T3S) is an export pathway used by Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria to inject bacterial proteins into the cytosol of eukaryotic host cells. This pathway is characterized by (i) a secretion nanomachine related to the bacterial flagellum, but usually topped by a stiff needle-like structure; (ii) the assembly in the eukaryotic cell membrane of a translocation pore formed by T3S substrates; (iii) a non-cleavable N-terminal secretion signal; (iv) T3S chaperones, assisting the secretion of some substrates; (v) a control mechanism ensuring protein delivery at the right place and time. Here, we review these different aspects focusing in open questions that promise exciting findings in the near future.

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