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The helical content of the YscP molecular ruler determines the length of the Yersinia injectisome.

Wagner, S.; Sorg, I.; Degiacomi, M.; Journet, L.; Peraro, M.D.; Cornelis, G.R.

Authors

S. Wagner

I. Sorg

L. Journet

M.D. Peraro

G.R. Cornelis



Abstract

The length of the Yersinia injectisome needle is determined by the protein YscP, which could act as a molecular ruler. The analysis of the correlation between the size of YscP and the needle length in seven wild-type strains of Yersinia enterocolitica reinforced this hypothesis but hinted that the secondary structure of YscP might influence needle length. Hence, 11 variants of YscP515 were generated by multiple Pro or Gly substitutions. The needle length changed in inverse function of the helical content, indicating that not only the number of residues but also their structure controls length. Taking the secondary motifs into account, Pro/Gly-variants were subjected to in silico modelling to simulate the extension of YscP upon needle growth. The calculated lengths when the helical content is preserved correlated strikingly with the measured needle length, with a constant difference of ∼29 nm, which corresponds approximately to the size of the basal body. These data support the ruler model and show that the functional ruler has a helical structure.

Citation

Wagner, S., Sorg, I., Degiacomi, M., Journet, L., Peraro, M., & Cornelis, G. (2009). The helical content of the YscP molecular ruler determines the length of the Yersinia injectisome. Molecular Microbiology, 71(3), 692-701. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2008.06556.x

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 17, 2008
Online Publication Date Dec 4, 2008
Publication Date 2009-02
Deposit Date Jul 26, 2017
Journal Molecular Microbiology
Print ISSN 0950-382X
Electronic ISSN 1365-2958
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 71
Issue 3
Pages 692-701
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2008.06556.x
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1372510