Structural insights into the mechanism of a novel protein targeting pathway in Gram-negative bacteria.

ABSTRACT: Many nascent polypeptides synthesized in the cytoplasm are translocated across membranes via a specific 'translocon' composed of protein complexes. Recently, a novel targeting pathway for the outer membrane β-barrel proteins (OMPs) in Gram-negative bacteria was discovered. The cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria is composed of the inner (plasma) membrane (IM) and the outer membrane (OM). In this new pathway, a SecA^N protein, which is mainly present in the IM as a homo-oligomer, translocates nascent OMPs across the IM; at the same time, SecA^N directly interacts with the β-barrel assembly machinery (BAM) complex embedded within the OM. A supercomplex (containing SecA^N , the BAM complex and many other proteins) spans the IM and OM, and is involved in the b

SUBMITTER: Jin F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7137807 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature