Killing in the name of: T6SS structure and effectors diversity
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Allsopp, Luke
Bernal, Patricia
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The life of bacteria is challenging, to endure bacteria employ a range of mechanisms to optimise their environment, including deploying the type VI secretion system (T6SS). Acting as a bacterial crossbow, this system delivers effectors responsible for subverting host cells, killing competitors and facilitating general secretion to access common goods. Due to its importance, this lethal machine has been evolutionarily maintained, disseminated and specialised to fulfil these vital functions. In fact, T6SS structural clusters are present in over 25% of Gram-negative bacteria, varying in number from one to six different genetic clusters per organism. Since its discovery in 2006, research on the T6SS has rapidly progressed, yielding remarkable breakthroughs. The identification and characterisation of novel components of the T6SS, combined with biochemical and structural studies, have revealed fascinating mechanisms governing its assembly, loading, firing and disassembly processes. Recent findings have also demonstrated the efficacy of this system against fungal and Gram-positive cells, expanding its scope. Ongoing research continues to uncover an extensive and expanding repertoire of T6SS effectors, the genuine mediators of T6SS function. These studies are shedding light on new aspects of the biology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the T6SS, highlighting recent discoveries of its structure and the diversity of its effectors. Additionally, it injects a personal perspective on avenues for future research, aiming to deepen our understanding of this combative system.
Date Issued
2023-07
Date Acceptance
2023-07-12
Citation
Microbiology, 2023, 169 (7), pp.1-22
ISSN
1350-0872
Publisher
Microbiology Society
Start Page
1
End Page
22
Journal / Book Title
Microbiology
Volume
169
Issue
7
Copyright Statement
© 2023 The Authors. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. This article was made open access via a Publish and Read agreement between
the Microbiology Society and the corresponding author’s institution.
the Microbiology Society and the corresponding author’s institution.
Identifier
https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/mic.0.001367#tab2
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
001367
Date Publish Online
2023-07-25