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Architecture of the Helicobacter pylori Cag‐type IV secretion system
Author(s) -
Terradot Laurent,
Waksman Gabriel
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2011.08037.x
Subject(s) - caga , secretion , effector , helicobacter pylori , biology , pathogen , computational biology , bacteria , gastric secretion , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genetics , biochemistry , virulence
Type IV secretion systems (T4SS) are macromolecular assemblies used by bacteria to transport material across their membranes. T4SS are generally composed of a set of twelve proteins (VirB1–11 and VirD4). This represents a dynamic machine powered by three ATPases. T4SS are widespread in pathogenic bacteria where they are often used to deliver effectors into host cells. For example, the human pathogen Helicobacter pylori encodes a T4SS, the Cag‐T4SS, which mediates the injection of the toxin CagA. We review the progress made in the past decade in our understanding of T4SS architecture. We translate this new knowledge to derive an understanding of the structure of the H. pylori Cag system, and use recent protein–protein interaction data to refine this model.