DOI: 10.15252/embr.201744072. <i>In vivo</i> structures of an intact type <scp>VI</scp> secretion system revealed by electron cryotomography

In vivo structures of an intact type VI secretion system revealed by electron cryotomography

10.15252/embr.201744072

Crossref journal-article

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

EMBO reports (297)

Abstract

AbstractThe type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a versatile molecular weapon used by many bacteria against eukaryotic hosts or prokaryotic competitors. It consists of a cytoplasmic bacteriophage tail‐like structure anchored in the bacterial cell envelope via a cytoplasmic baseplate and a periplasmic membrane complex. Rapid contraction of the sheath in the bacteriophage tail‐like structure propels an inner tube/spike complex through the target cell envelope to deliver effectors. While structures of purified contracted sheath and purified membrane complex have been solved, because sheaths contract upon cell lysis and purification, no structure is available for the extended sheath. Structural information about the baseplate is also lacking. Here, we use electron cryotomography to directly visualize intact T6SS structures inside Myxococcus xanthus cells. Using sub‐tomogram averaging, we resolve the structure of the extended sheath and membrane‐associated components including the baseplate. Moreover, we identify novel extracellular bacteriophage tail fiber‐like antennae. These results provide new structural insights into how the extended sheath prevents premature disassembly and how this sophisticated machine may recognize targets.

Bibliography

Chang, Y., Rettberg, L. A., Ortega, D. R., & Jensen, G. J. (2017). In vivo structures of an intact type VI secretion system revealed by electron cryotomography. EMBO Reports, 18(7), 1090â1099. Portico.

Authors 4

Yi‐Wei Chang (first)
Lee A Rettberg (additional)
Davi R Ortega (additional)
Grant J Jensen (additional)

References 44 Referenced 63

Dates

Type	When
Created	8 years, 3 months ago (May 9, 2017, 8:10 p.m.)
Deposited	1 year, 8 months ago (Dec. 18, 2023, 3:59 p.m.)
Indexed	2 months, 2 weeks ago (June 12, 2025, 12:28 p.m.)
Issued	8 years, 3 months ago (May 9, 2017)
Published	8 years, 3 months ago (May 9, 2017)
Published Online	8 years, 3 months ago (May 9, 2017)
Published Print	8 years, 1 month ago (July 1, 2017)

Funders 1

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 10.13039/100000060
Region: Americas
gov (National government)
Labels3
1. Instituto Nacional de Alergias y Enfermedades Infecciosas
2. National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases
3. NIAID
Awards1
1. R01 AI127401

BibTeX

@article{Chang_2017, title={In vivo structures of an intact type <scp>VI</scp> secretion system revealed by electron cryotomography}, volume={18}, ISSN={1469-3178}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.15252/embr.201744072}, DOI={10.15252/embr.201744072}, number={7}, journal={EMBO reports}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Chang, Yi‐Wei and Rettberg, Lee A and Ortega, Davi R and Jensen, Grant J}, year={2017}, month=may, pages={1090–1099} }

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