The P. aeruginosa effector Tse5 forms membrane pores disrupting the membrane potential of intoxicated bacteria

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa injects effector proteins into neighbouring competitors and host cells, providing a fitness advantage that allows this opportunistic nosocomial pathogen to persist and prevail during the onset of infections. However, despite the high clin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Communications biology 2022-11, Vol.5 (1), p.1189-15, Article 1189
Main Authors: González-Magaña, Amaia, Altuna, Jon, Queralt-Martín, María, Largo, Eneko, Velázquez, Carmen, Montánchez, Itxaso, Bernal, Patricia, Alcaraz, Antonio, Albesa-Jové, David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
631/326/41/1319
631/326/421
631/57/2283
Bacterial Proteins - metabolism
Biology
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Competition
Life Sciences
Membrane potential
Membrane Potentials
Opportunist infection
Pores
Proteolysis
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa - metabolism
Secretion
Type VI Secretion Systems - genetics
Type VI Secretion Systems - metabolism
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Summary:The type VI secretion system (T6SS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa injects effector proteins into neighbouring competitors and host cells, providing a fitness advantage that allows this opportunistic nosocomial pathogen to persist and prevail during the onset of infections. However, despite the high clinical relevance of P. aeruginosa , the identity and mode of action of most P. aeruginosa T6SS-dependent effectors remain to be discovered. Here, we report the molecular mechanism of Tse5-CT, the toxic auto-proteolytic product of the P. aeruginosa T6SS exported effector Tse5. Our results demonstrate that Tse5-CT is a pore-forming toxin that can transport ions across the membrane, causing membrane depolarisation and bacterial death. The membrane potential regulates a wide range of essential cellular functions; therefore, membrane depolarisation is an efficient strategy to compete with other microorganisms in polymicrobial environments. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type 6 secretion effector Tse5 forms pores in the cytoplasmic membrane when ectopically produced and hence has a bacteriolytic effect by depolarising the inner membrane potential.
ISSN:2399-3642
2399-3642
DOI:10.1038/s42003-022-04140-y