Aim, Load, Fire: The Type VI Secretion System, a Bacterial Nanoweapon

• Published in: Trends in microbiology (Regular ed.) Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 51 - 62
• Main Authors: Cianfanelli, Francesca R, Monlezun, Laura, Coulthurst, Sarah J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2016; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bacteria; Bacteria - metabolism; bacterial protein secretion; Bacterial Proteins - physiology; Bacteriology; Bacteriophages - physiology; interbacterial competition; Internal Medicine; Life Sciences; macromolecular machine; Microbiology and Parasitology; Models, Molecular; Nanostructures - microbiology; secreted effector proteins; type VI secretion system; Type VI Secretion Systems - physiology; macromolecular machine; bacterial protein secretion; interbacterial competition; secreted effector proteins; type VI secretion system
• ISSN: 0966-842X; 1878-4380
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2015.10.005

Bacteria utilise specialised protein secretion systems to interact with host organisms, competitor bacteria, and the environment. The Type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a versatile weapon deployed by many bacterial species to target either host cells or rival bacteria. The widespread occurrence and significance of the T6SS is becoming increasingly appreciated, as is its intriguing mode of action. The T6SS delivers multiple, diverse effector proteins directly into target cells using a dynamic ‘firing’ mechanism related to the action of contractile bacteriophage tails. Here, we summarise the contribution of recent findings to our developing picture of how the T6SS assembles and fires, how it is loaded with different types of effectors, and how it can be aimed towards an incoming assault.