A multidimensional exploration of exoprotein transport and secretion by the type II secretion pathway – 4D-SECRETION

Pathogenic bacteria have developed highly sophisticated nano-machines to guarantee the efficient secretion of virulence factors. The type II secretion system (T2SS) is dedicated to the transport of folded proteins. We previously used in vitro biophysical and biochemical tools to reveal unprecedented interactions between secreted substrates and secretion system components. We now propose to scale up the study of the T2SS by the identification by partner 1 and the structural characterization by partner 2 of secretion intermediates trapped in vivo during the secretion process. We have a high likelihood of success in this enterprise based on promising preliminary data and a validated collaboration between the two partners. Understanding the secretion mechanism and determining the molecular basis of its specificity will not only improve our fundamental knowledge but also open the way to develop new antibacterial agents as well as new industrial applications for the controlled secretion of commercially valuable proteins.