Atomic structures of a bacteriocin targeting Gram-positive bacteria.

ABSTRACT: Due to envelope differences between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria¹, engineering precision bactericidal contractile nanomachines² requires atomic-level understanding of their structures; however, only those killing a Gram-negative bacterium are currently known^3,4. Here, we report the atomic structures of an engineered diffocin, a contractile syringe-like molecular machine that kills the Gram-positive bacterium Clostridioides difficile. Captured in one pre-contraction and two post-contraction states, each structure fashions six proteins in the bacteria-targeting baseplate, two proteins in the energy-storing trunk, and a collar protein linking the sheath with the membrane-penetrating tube. Compared to contractile machines targeting Gram-negat

SUBMITTER: Cai X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10996793 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature