Structure of the cholera toxin secretion channel in its closed state

Steve L. Reichow, Konstantin V. Korotkov, Wim G.J. Hol, Tamir Gonen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

117 Scopus citations

Abstract

The type II secretion system (T2SS) is a macromolecular complex spanning the inner and outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria. Remarkably, the T2SS secretes folded proteins, including multimeric assemblies such as cholera toxin and heat-labile enterotoxin from Vibrio cholerae and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, respectively. The major outer membrane T2SS protein is the 'secretin' GspD. Cryo-EM reconstruction of the V. cholerae secretin at 19-Å resolution reveals a dodecameric structure reminiscent of a barrel, with a large channel at its center that contains a closed periplasmic gate. The GspD periplasmic domain forms a vestibule with a conserved constriction, and it binds to a pentameric exoprotein and to the trimeric tip of the T2SS pseudopilus. By combining our results with structures of the cholera toxin and T2SS pseudopilus tip, we provide a structural basis for a possible secretion mechanism of the T2SS.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1226-1232
Number of pages7
JournalNature Structural and Molecular Biology
Volume17
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2010
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Structural Biology
  • Molecular Biology

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