Structural organisation of the type IV secretion systems.

ABSTRACT: Type IV secretion (T4S) systems are large dynamic nanomachines that transport DNAs and/or proteins through the membranes of bacteria. Because of their complexity and multi-protein organisation, T4S systems have been extremely challenging to study structurally. However in the past five years significant milestones have been achieved by X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy. This review describes some of the more recent advances: the structures of some of the protein components of the T4S systems and the complete core complex structure that was determined using electron microscopy.

SUBMITTER: Waksman G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3969286 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature