Structure of the Helicobacter pylori Cag type IV secretion system

Elife. 2019 Jun 18:8:e47644. doi: 10.7554/eLife.47644.

Abstract

Bacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are molecular machines that can mediate interbacterial DNA transfer through conjugation and delivery of effector molecules into host cells. The Helicobacter pylori Cag T4SS translocates CagA, a bacterial oncoprotein, into gastric cells, contributing to gastric cancer pathogenesis. We report the structure of a membrane-spanning Cag T4SS assembly, which we describe as three sub-assemblies: a 14-fold symmetric outer membrane core complex (OMCC), 17-fold symmetric periplasmic ring complex (PRC), and central stalk. Features that differ markedly from those of prototypical T4SSs include an expanded OMCC and unexpected symmetry mismatch between the OMCC and PRC. This structure is one of the largest bacterial secretion system assemblies ever reported and illustrates the remarkable structural diversity that exists among bacterial T4SSs.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori; Type IV secretion system; bacterial protein secretion; cryo-electron microscopy; gastric cancer; infectious disease; microbiology; molecular biophysics; none; structural biology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Helicobacter pylori / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Type IV Secretion Systems / chemistry*
  • Type IV Secretion Systems / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Type IV Secretion Systems

Associated data

  • PDB/6OEE
  • PDB/6OEG
  • PDB/6ODI
  • PDB/6OEF
  • PDB/6OEH
  • PDB/6ODJ