An interbacterial toxin inhibits target cell growth by synthesizing (p)ppApp.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to inhibit the growth of competitors¹. One such mechanism involves type VI secretion systems, which bacteria can use to inject antibacterial toxins directly into neighbouring cells. Many of these toxins target the integrity of the cell envelope, but the full range of growth inhibitory mechanisms remains unknown². Here we identify a type VI secretion effector, Tas1, in the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The crystal structure of Tas1 shows that it is similar to enzymes that synthesize (p)ppGpp, a broadly conserved signalling molecule in bacteria that modulates cell growth rate, particularly in response to nutritional stress³. However, Tas1 does not synthesize (p)ppGpp; instead, it pyrophosphorylat

SUBMITTER: Ahmad S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6883173 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature