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Contact-independent killing mediated by a T6SS effector with intrinsic cell-entry properties.
- Source :
-
Nature communications [Nat Commun] 2021 Jan 18; Vol. 12 (1), pp. 423. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jan 18. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Bacterial type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) inject toxic effectors into adjacent eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. It is generally thought that this process requires physical contact between the two cells. Here, we provide evidence of contact-independent killing by a T6SS-secreted effector. We show that the pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis uses a T6SS (T6SS-3) to secrete a nuclease effector that kills other bacteria in vitro and facilitates gut colonization in mice. The effector (Tce1) is a small protein that acts as a Ca <superscript>2+</superscript> - and Mg <superscript>2+</superscript> -dependent DNase, and its toxicity is inhibited by a cognate immunity protein, Tci1. As expected, T6SS-3 mediates canonical, contact-dependent killing by directly injecting Tce1 into adjacent cells. In addition, T6SS-3 also mediates killing of neighboring cells in the absence of cell-to-cell contact, by secreting Tce1 into the extracellular milieu. Efficient contact-independent entry of Tce1 into target cells requires proteins OmpF and BtuB in the outer membrane of target cells. The discovery of a contact-independent, long-range T6SS toxin delivery provides a new perspective for understanding the physiological roles of T6SS in competition. However, the mechanisms mediating contact-independent uptake of Tce1 by target cells remain unclear.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins metabolism
Bacterial Toxins genetics
Bacterial Toxins isolation & purification
Bacterial Toxins toxicity
Deoxyribonucleases genetics
Deoxyribonucleases isolation & purification
Deoxyribonucleases toxicity
Disease Models, Animal
Female
Humans
Mice
Mutagenesis
Recombinant Proteins genetics
Recombinant Proteins isolation & purification
Recombinant Proteins metabolism
Recombinant Proteins toxicity
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis metabolism
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infections microbiology
Bacterial Toxins metabolism
Deoxyribonucleases metabolism
Type VI Secretion Systems metabolism
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis pathogenicity
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infections pathology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2041-1723
- Volume :
- 12
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Nature communications
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33462232
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-20726-8