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Identity Determinants of the Translocation Signal for a Type 1 Secretion System

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Spitz, Olivia 
Erenburg, Isabelle N 
Kanonenberg, Kerstin 
Peherstorfer, Sandra 
Lenders, Michael HH 

Abstract

jats:pThe toxin hemolysin A was first identified in uropathogenic jats:italicE. coli</jats:italic> strains and shown to be secreted in a one-step mechanism by a dedicated secretion machinery. This machinery, which belongs to the Type I secretion system family of the Gram-negative bacteria, is composed of the outer membrane protein TolC, the membrane fusion protein HlyD and the ABC transporter HlyB. The N-terminal domain of HlyA represents the toxin which is followed by a RTX (Repeats in Toxins) domain harboring nonapeptide repeat sequences and the secretion signal at the extreme C-terminus. This secretion signal, which is necessary and sufficient for secretion, does not appear to require a defined sequence, and the nature of the encoded signal remains unknown. Here, we have combined structure prediction based on the AlphaFold algorithm together with functional and jats:italicin silico</jats:italic> data to examine the role of secondary structure in secretion. Based on the presented data, a C-terminal, amphipathic helix is proposed between residues 975 and 987 that plays an essential role in the early steps of the secretion process.</jats:p>

Description

Keywords

Physiology, bacterial secretion systems, secretion signal, ABC transporter, amphipathic helix, ATPase activity, protein secretion

Journal Title

Frontiers in Physiology

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1664-042X

Volume Title

12

Publisher

Frontiers Media SA