Open AccessPscF is a major component of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa type III secretion needle
Author(s) -
Pastor Alexandrine,
Chabert Jacqueline,
Louwagie Mathilde,
Garin Jerôme,
Attree Ina
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsle.2005.09.028
Subject(s) - pseudomonas aeruginosa , secretion , yersinia enterocolitica , microbiology and biotechnology , yersinia , cytoplasm , pathogen , bacteria , opportunistic pathogen , type three secretion system , cytotoxicity , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , mutant , in vitro , gene , genetics
Pseudomonas aeruginosa , a Gram‐negative opportunistic pathogen, translocates exoenzymes (Exo) directly into the eukaryotic cell cytoplasm. This is accomplished by a type III secretion/translocation machinery. Here, we show that the P. aeruginosa type III secretory needle structure is composed essentially of PscF, a protein required for secretion and P. aeruginosa cytotoxicity. Partially purified needles, detached from the bacterial surface, are 60–80 nm in length and 7 nm in width, resembling needles from Yersinia spp. YscF of Yersinia enterocolitica was able to functionally complement the pscF deletion, but required 11 P. aeruginosa ‐specific amino acids at the N‐terminus for its function.