The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is molecular machine used by a wide range of Gram-negative bacterial species to transport effectors from the interior (cytoplasm or cytosol) of a bacterial cell across the cellular envelope into an adjacent target cell. While often reported that the T6SS was discovered in 2006 by researchers studying the causative agent of cholera, Vibrio cholerae, the first study demonstrating that T6SS genes encode a protein export apparatus was actually published in 2004, in a study of protein secretion by the fish pathogen Edwardsiella tarda.[1][2][3]
Since then, it is estimated that at least a quarter of all pathogenic and non-pathogenic proteobacterial genomes encode for a T6SS, including pathogens of animals, plants, and humans, as well as soil, environmental or marine bacteria.[4][5][6][7] Genes encoding for the T6SSs are commonly found chromosomally, but can also be harboured in mobile genetic elements and on plasmids mediating their transfer and increase in genetic diversity.[8][9] While most of the early studies of Type VI secretion focused on its role in the pathogenesis of higher organisms, it is now known to function primarily in interbacterial antagonism.[3]
Structure and mechanism
The T6SS is thought to resemble an inverted phage extending outward from the bacterial cell surface. It consists of 14 proteins that assemble into three sub-complexes: a phage tail-like tubule, a phage baseplate-like structure, and cell-envelope spanning membrane complex. These three subcomplexes work together to transport proteins across the bacterial cell envelope and into a target cell through a contractile mechanism[10]
Phage tail-like
The phage tail-like component of the T6SS is a dynamic tubular structure that undergoes cycles of assembly and disassembly. It can be up to 600 nm long, and has been visualized extending across the bacterial cytoplasm in electron micrographs.[11] The tubules consist of repeating units of the proteins TssA and TssB (VipA/VipB) arranged as a sheath around a tube built from stacked hexameric rings of the haemolysin co-regulated protein (Hcp).[12][13] At the tip of the Hcp tube sits a trimer of the phage tail spike-like protein VgrG, which is in turn capped by a pointed PAAR domain-containing protein.[14] Contraction of the sheath is thought to propel the Hcp tube, VgrG and associated substrates outside of the bacterial cell, where the VgrG/PAAR spike facilitates penetration of the membrane of a neighboring cell. The tubule structure is dismantled through the action of the ATP-degrading protein ClpV, which sits at the tubule base.[13]
Baseplate
The phage tail-like tubule of the T6SS assembles on a structure analogous to bacteriophage baseplates. It consists of the proteins TssE, TssF, TssG, and TssK. The baseplate and phage tail-like complex interact in the bacterial cytoplasm, and then are recruited to the cell envelope by the membrane complex.[10]
Membrane
The T6SS membrane complex is responsible for anchoring the apparatus to the cellular membrane, and provides the channel through which substrates are propelled by the contraction of the phage tail-like tubule.[10] This large (1.7 md) complex is formed from 10 interacting units of a heterotrimer containing TssJ, TssM and TssL. It is believed to span from the inner membrane to the outer membrane of the Gram negative bacterial cell envelope, forming a channel that opens and closes with a unique iris-like mechanism.[15]
Substrate recognition
Unlike substrates of other secretion systems (such as the general secretory pathway or secretion systems III and IV), those of the T6SS are not known to have any universally identifying features. Instead, they are recognized and selected for secretion through one of two structural components of the apparatus. One class of substrates binds within the pore of a hemolysin-coregulated protein (Hcp) hexamer.[16] Since substrates are unstable in the absence of this interaction, it is thought that the substrate-Hcp complexes are secreted together, rather than Hcp serving as a passive tubule through which substrates pass. Members of the second class of substrates are targeted for secretion via interaction with the phage tail spike-like protein VgrG. These substrates are often modular proteins, such as the Rhs toxins, that possess PAAR domain for interaction with VgrG at one end.[5] There are also instances where a VgrG and a substrate are both part of the same protein.
Anti-eukaryotic
Although the ancestral function of the T6SS appears to be targeting of bacteria, a handful of systems have been identified that have evolved to target eukaryotic cells. In general, these eukaryote-targeting systems are involved in causing disease. For example, the intracellular pathogen Francisella tularensis requires the activity of a T6SS to escape from phagosomes and replicate in the cytoplasm of macrophages.[17] The mechanism by which secreted proteins facilitate F. tularensis virulence is still unknown. The T6SS of Vibrio cholerae has a dual role, being able to target both bacterial and eukaryotic cells.[18] At least one substrate it secretes is specialized for eukaryotic cell-targeting, functioning by cross-linking the cytoskeleton protein actin.[19] Burkholderia pseudomallei and Edwardsiella tarda are two other organisms which possess a T6SS that appears dedicated for eukaryotic targeting. The T6SS of plant pathogen Xanthomonas citri protects it from predatory amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum.[20]
Antibacterial
A wide range of Gram-negative bacteria have been shown to have antibacterial T6SSs, including opportunistic pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa,[21] obligate commensal species that inhabit the human gut (Bacteroides spp.),[22] and plant-associated bacteria such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens.[23] These systems exert antibacterial activity via the function of their secreted substrates.[3] All characterized bacterial-targeting T6SS proteins act as toxins, either by killing or preventing the growth of target cells. The mechanisms of toxicity toward target cells exhibited by T6SS substrates are diverse, but typically involve targeting of highly conserved bacterial structures, including degradation of the cell wall through amidase or glycohydrolase activity, disruption of cell membranes through lipase activity or pore formation, cleavage of DNA, and degradation of the essential metabolite NAD+.[3][24] T6SS-positive bacterial species prevent T6SS-mediated intoxication towards self and kin cells by producing immunity proteins specific to each secreted toxin. The immunity proteins function by binding to the toxin proteins, often at their active site, thereby blocking their activity.[25][3]
Regulation
GacS/Rsm system
Some research has gone into regulation of T6SS by two component systems. In P. aeruginosa, it has been observed that the GacS/Rsm two-component system is involved in type VI secretion system regulation. This system regulates the expression of Rsm small regulatory RNA molecules, and has also been implicated in biofilm formation. Upon the GacS/Rsm pathway stimulation, an increase in Rsm molecules leads to inhibition of mRNA-binding protein RsmA. RsmA is a translational inhibitor that binds to sequences near the ribosome-binding site for T6SS gene expression. This level of regulation has also been observed in P. fluorescens and P. syringae.[26][27]
Quorum sensing
There are various examples in which quorum sensing regulates T6SS. In Vibrio cholerae T6SS studies, it has been observed that serotype O37 has high vas gene expression. Serotypes O139 and O1 on the other hand exhibit the opposite, with markedly low vas gene expression. It has been suggested that the differences in expression are attributable to differences in quorum-sensing levels. In Vibrio cholerae, autoinducer-1 (AI-1) signals are detected by LuxQ, a sensor kinase. LuxQ activates LuxU, which then acts on LuxO, a DNA-binding protein which represses HapR gene expression. HapR is thought to LuxO deletions resulted in strong induction of vas gene expression, and hence T6SS expression, demonstrating that T6SS is regulated in some form by quorum sensing.[28] However, O1 strains with LuxO deletions still had relatively quiescent T6SS compared to the O37 strain, suggesting that additional factors are also involved.[29]
See also
References
- ↑ Rao PS, Yamada Y, Tan YP, Leung KY (2004). "Use of proteomics to identify novel virulence determinants that are required for Edwardsiella tarda pathogenesis". Mol Microbiol. 53 (2): 573–86. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2958.2004.04123.x. PMID 15228535. S2CID 25901071.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Hood RD, Peterson SB, Mougous JD (March 2017). "From Striking Out to Striking Gold: Discovering that Type VI Secretion Targets Bacteria". Cell Host & Microbe. 21 (3): 286–289. doi:10.1016/j.chom.2017.02.001. PMC 6404758. PMID 28279332.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Russell AB, Peterson SB, Mougous JD (February 2014). "Type VI secretion system effectors: poisons with a purpose". Nature Reviews. Microbiology. 12 (2): 137–48. doi:10.1038/nrmicro3185. PMC 4256078. PMID 24384601.
- ↑ Boyer, Frédéric; Fichant, Gwennaële; Berthod, Jérémie; Vandenbrouck, Yves; Attree, Ina (December 2009). "Dissecting the bacterial type VI secretion system by a genome wide in silico analysis: what can be learned from available microbial genomic resources?". BMC Genomics. 10 (1): 104. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-10-104. ISSN 1471-2164. PMC 2660368. PMID 19284603.
- 1 2 Shneider MM, Buth SA, Ho BT, Basler M, Mekalanos JJ, Leiman PG (August 2013). "PAAR-repeat proteins sharpen and diversify the type VI secretion system spike". Nature. 500 (7462): 350–353. Bibcode:2013Natur.500..350S. doi:10.1038/nature12453. PMC 3792578. PMID 23925114.
- ↑ Bingle, Lewis EH; Bailey, Christopher M; Pallen, Mark J (February 2008). "Type VI secretion: a beginner's guide". Current Opinion in Microbiology. 11 (1): 3–8. doi:10.1016/j.mib.2008.01.006. PMID 18289922.
- ↑ Monjarás Feria, Julia; Valvano, Miguel A. (2020-10-19). "An Overview of Anti-Eukaryotic T6SS Effectors". Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. 10: 584751. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2020.584751. ISSN 2235-2988. PMC 7641602. PMID 33194822.
- ↑ Robinson, Luca; Liaw, Janie; Omole, Zahra; Xia, Dong; van Vliet, Arnoud H. M.; Corcionivoschi, Nicolae; Hachani, Abderrahman; Gundogdu, Ozan (29 June 2021). "Bioinformatic analysis of the Campylobacter jejuni Type VI secretion system and effector prediction". Frontiers in Microbiology. 12: 1751. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.694824. ISSN 1664-302X. PMC 8285248. PMID 34276628.
- ↑ Filloux, Alain; Hachani, Abderrahman; Bleves, Sophia (June 2008). "The bacterial type VI secretion machine: yet another player for protein transport across membranes". Microbiology. 154 (6): 1570–1583. doi:10.1099/mic.0.2008/016840-0. hdl:10044/1/40505. PMID 18524912.
- 1 2 3 Cianfanelli FR, Monlezun L, Coulthurst SJ (January 2016). "Aim, Load, Fire: The Type VI Secretion System, a Bacterial Nanoweapon". Trends in Microbiology. 24 (1): 51–62. doi:10.1016/j.tim.2015.10.005. PMID 26549582.
- ↑ Basler M, Pilhofer M, Henderson GP, Jensen GJ, Mekalanos JJ (February 2012). "Type VI secretion requires a dynamic contractile phage tail-like structure". Nature. 483 (7388): 182–6. Bibcode:2012Natur.483..182B. doi:10.1038/nature10846. PMC 3527127. PMID 22367545.
- ↑ Brunet YR, Hénin J, Celia H, Cascales E (March 2014). "Type VI secretion and bacteriophage tail tubes share a common assembly pathway". EMBO Reports. 15 (3): 315–21. doi:10.1002/embr.201337936. PMC 3989698. PMID 24488256.
- 1 2 Bönemann G, Pietrosiuk A, Diemand A, Zentgraf H, Mogk A (February 2009). "Remodelling of VipA/VipB tubules by ClpV-mediated threading is crucial for type VI protein secretion". The EMBO Journal. 28 (4): 315–25. doi:10.1038/emboj.2008.269. PMC 2646146. PMID 19131969.
- ↑ Bönemann G, Pietrosiuk A, Diemand A, Zentgraf H, Mogk A (February 2009). "Remodelling of VipA/VipB tubules by ClpV-mediated threading is crucial for type VI protein secretion". The EMBO Journal. 28 (4): 315–25. doi:10.1038/emboj.2008.269. PMC 2646146. PMID 19131969.
- ↑ Durand E, Nguyen VS, Zoued A, Logger L, Péhau-Arnaudet G, Aschtgen MS, Spinelli S, Desmyter A, Bardiaux B, Dujeancourt A, Roussel A, Cambillau C, Cascales E, Fronzes R (July 2015). "Biogenesis and structure of a type VI secretion membrane core complex". Nature. 523 (7562): 555–60. Bibcode:2015Natur.523..555D. doi:10.1038/nature14667. PMID 26200339. S2CID 205244835.
- ↑ Silverman JM, Agnello DM, Zheng H, Andrews BT, Li M, Catalano CE, Gonen T, Mougous JD (September 2013). "Haemolysin coregulated protein is an exported receptor and chaperone of type VI secretion substrates". Molecular Cell. 51 (5): 584–93. doi:10.1016/j.molcel.2013.07.025. PMC 3844553. PMID 23954347.
- ↑ Nano FE, Schmerk C (June 2007). "The Francisella pathogenicity island". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1105 (1): 122–37. Bibcode:2007NYASA1105..122N. doi:10.1196/annals.1409.000. PMID 17395722. S2CID 35958075.
- ↑ Dong TG, Ho BT, Yoder-Himes DR, Mekalanos JJ (February 2013). "Identification of T6SS-dependent effector and immunity proteins by Tn-seq in Vibrio cholerae". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 110 (7): 2623–8. Bibcode:2013PNAS..110.2623D. doi:10.1073/pnas.1222783110. PMC 3574944. PMID 23362380.,
- ↑ Pukatzki S, Ma AT, Revel AT, Sturtevant D, Mekalanos JJ (September 2007). "Type VI secretion system translocates a phage tail spike-like protein into target cells where it cross-links actin". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 104 (39): 15508–13. Bibcode:2007PNAS..10415508P. doi:10.1073/pnas.0706532104. PMC 2000545. PMID 17873062.,
- ↑ Bayer-Santos E, Lima LD, Ceseti LM, Ratagami CY, de Santana ES, da Silva AM, Farah CS, Alvarez-Martinez CE (April 2018). "Xanthomonas citri T6SS mediates resistance to Dictyostelium predation and is regulated by an ECF σ factor and cognate Ser/Thr kinase". Environmental Microbiology. 20 (4): 1562–1575. doi:10.1111/1462-2920.14085. PMID 29488354. S2CID 3579518.
- ↑ Hood RD, Singh P, Hsu F, Güvener T, Carl MA, Trinidad RR, Silverman JM, Ohlson BB, Hicks KG, Plemel RL, Li M, Schwarz S, Wang WY, Merz AJ, Goodlett DR, Mougous JD (January 2010). "A type VI secretion system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa targets a toxin to bacteria". Cell Host & Microbe. 7 (1): 25–37. doi:10.1016/j.chom.2009.12.007. PMC 2831478. PMID 20114026.
- ↑ Russell AB, Wexler AG, Harding BN, Whitney JC, Bohn AJ, Goo YA, Tran BQ, Barry NA, Zheng H, Peterson SB, Chou S, Gonen T, Goodlett DR, Goodman AL, Mougous JD (August 2014). "A type VI secretion-related pathway in Bacteroidetes mediates interbacterial antagonism". Cell Host & Microbe. 16 (2): 227–236. doi:10.1016/j.chom.2014.07.007. PMC 4136423. PMID 25070807.
- ↑ Ma LS, Hachani A, Lin JS, Filloux A, Lai EM (July 2014). "Agrobacterium tumefaciens deploys a superfamily of type VI secretion DNase effectors as weapons for interbacterial competition in planta". Cell Host & Microbe. 16 (1): 94–104. doi:10.1016/j.chom.2014.06.002. PMC 4096383. PMID 24981331.
- ↑ Whitney JC, Quentin D, Sawai S, LeRoux M, Harding BN, Ledvina HE, Tran BQ, Robinson H, Goo YA, Goodlett DR, Raunser S, Mougous JD (October 2015). "An interbacterial NAD(P)(+) glycohydrolase toxin requires elongation factor Tu for delivery to target cells". Cell. 163 (3): 607–19. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2015.09.027. PMC 4624332. PMID 26456113.
- ↑ Ho BT, Dong TG, Mekalanos JJ (January 2014). "A view to a kill: the bacterial type VI secretion system". Cell Host & Microbe. 15 (1): 9–21. doi:10.1016/j.chom.2013.11.008. PMC 3936019. PMID 24332978.
- ↑ Mougous JD, Cuff ME, Raunser S, Shen A, Zhou M, Gifford CA, Goodman AL, Joachimiak G, Ordoñez CL, Lory S, Walz T, Joachimiak A, Mekalanos JJ (June 2006). "A virulence locus of Pseudomonas aeruginosa encodes a protein secretion apparatus". Science. 312 (5779): 1526–30. Bibcode:2006Sci...312.1526M. doi:10.1126/science.1128393. PMC 2800167. PMID 16763151.
- ↑ Records AR, Gross DC (July 2010). "Sensor kinases RetS and LadS regulate Pseudomonas syringae type VI secretion and virulence factors". Journal of Bacteriology. 192 (14): 3584–96. doi:10.1128/JB.00114-10. PMC 2897360. PMID 20472799.
- ↑ Records AR, Gross DC (July 2010). "Sensor kinases RetS and LadS regulate Pseudomonas syringae type VI secretion and virulence factors". Journal of Bacteriology. 192 (14): 3584–96. doi:10.1128/JB.00114-10. PMC 2897360. PMID 20472799.
- ↑ Silverman JM, Brunet YR, Cascales E, Mougous JD (2012). "Structure and regulation of the type VI secretion system". Annual Review of Microbiology. 66: 453–72. doi:10.1146/annurev-micro-121809-151619. PMC 3595004. PMID 22746332.