The needle length of bacterial injectisomes is determined by a molecular ruler.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 14657497.
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Abstract
Size determination represents a fundamental requirement for multicomponent biological structures. Some pathogenic bacteria possess a weapon derived from the flagellum. Like the flagellum, this type-III secretion apparatus, called the injectisome, has a transmembrane basal body, but the external component is a needle-like structure instead of a hook and a filament. Here, we provide evidence that the length of this needle is determined by the size of a protein, YscP, acting as a molecular ruler.
Medical subject headings
- Bacterial Proteins
- Yersinia enterocolitica