Modular Lipoprotein Toxins Transferred by Outer Membrane Exchange Target Discrete Cell Entry Pathways.

ABSTRACT: Bacteria compete against related individuals by delivering toxins. In myxobacteria, a key delivery and kin discrimination mechanism is called outer membrane (OM) exchange (OME). Here, cells that display compatible polymorphic cell surface receptors recognize one another and bidirectionally transfer OM content. Included in the cargo is a suite of polymorphic SitA lipoprotein toxins. Consequently, OME between compatible cells that are not clonemates results in intoxication, while exchange between clonemates is harmonious because cells express a cognate repertoire of immunity proteins, which themselves are not transferred. SitA toxins belong to six nonhomologous families classified by sequence conservation within their N-terminal "escort domains" (EDs), while their C termini contain polymorph

SUBMITTER: Vassallo CN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8546572 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature