Hrp pilus--reaching through the plant cell wall
2001
Romantschuk, M. | Roine, E. | Taira, S.
A number of Gram negative pathogenic bacteria are equipped with a macromolecule translocation machinery that enables them to inject virulence determinants directly into the cells of their eukaryotic hosts. For plant pathogens, the plant cell wall represents an extra challenge for such injection. The ability to overcome this barrier has turned out to be so beneficial that two non-homologous injection systems, type III and type IV secretion machineries, have evolved. A morphologically similar pilus structure is associated with both of these systems. In this review, the direct protein translocation by type III (Hrp) secretion machinery is discussed with focus on the function of Hrp pilus. Comparisons between the Hrp system and the analogous translocation of T-DNA by Agrobacterium type IV secretion machinery are made and the differences between type III systems of plant and animal pathogens are discussed. Alternative hypothetical models for the mechanistic mode of action of the pilus are presented.
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