SecA-a New Twist in the Tale

J Bacteriol. 2016 Dec 28;199(2):e00736-16. doi: 10.1128/JB.00736-16. Print 2017 Jan 15.

Abstract

A paper published in this issue of the Journal of Bacteriology (D. Huber, M. Jamshad, R. Hanmer, D. Schibich, K. Döring, I. Marcomini, G. Kramer, and B. Bukau, J Bacteriol 199:e0622-16, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/JB.00622-16) provides us with a timely reminder that all is not as clear as we had previously thought in the general bacterial secretion system. The paper describes a new mode of secretion through the Sec system-"uncoupled cotranslocation"-for the passage of proteins across the bacterial inner membrane and suggests that we might rethink the nature and mechanism of the targeting and transport steps toward protein export.

Keywords: ATPase; SecY complex; bacterial secretion; protein targeting; protein translocation.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / genetics
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Secretion Systems / physiology*
  • Cell Membrane
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / physiology*
  • Protein Transport / physiology
  • SEC Translocation Channels / genetics
  • SEC Translocation Channels / metabolism*
  • SecA Proteins

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Secretion Systems
  • SEC Translocation Channels
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • SecA Proteins