A mRNA signal for the type III secretion of Yop proteins by Yersinia enterocolitica

Science. 1997 Nov 7;278(5340):1140-3. doi: 10.1126/science.278.5340.1140.

Abstract

Pathogenic Yersinia species have a specialized secretion system (type III) to target cytotoxic Yop proteins during infection. The signals of YopE and YopN sufficient for the secretion of translational reporter fusions were mapped to the first 15 codons. No common amino acid or peptide sequence could be identified among the secretion signals. Systematic mutagenesis of the secretion signal yielded mutants defective in Yop translation; however, no point mutants could be identified that specifically abolished secretion. Frameshift mutations that completely altered the peptide sequences of these signals also failed to prevent secretion. Thus, the signal that leads to the type III secretion of Yop proteins appears to be encoded in their messenger RNA rather than the peptide sequence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Base Sequence
  • Codon
  • Frameshift Mutation
  • Membrane Proteins*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Point Mutation
  • Protein Biosynthesis
  • RNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • RNA, Bacterial / genetics*
  • RNA, Bacterial / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / chemistry
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Yersinia enterocolitica / metabolism*
  • Yersinia enterocolitica / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Codon
  • Membrane Proteins
  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • yopE protein, Yersinia
  • YopN protein, Yersinia