Tetratricopeptide repeat motifs in the world of bacterial pathogens: role in virulence mechanisms

Infect Immun. 2013 Mar;81(3):629-35. doi: 10.1128/IAI.01035-12. Epub 2012 Dec 21.

Abstract

The tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) structural motif is known to occur in a wide variety of proteins present in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. The TPR motif represents an elegant module for the assembly of various multiprotein complexes, and thus, TPR-containing proteins often play roles in vital cell processes. As the TPR profile is well defined, the complete TPR protein repertoire of a bacterium with a known genomic sequence can be predicted. This provides a tremendous opportunity for investigators to identify new TPR-containing proteins and study them in detail. In the past decade, TPR-containing proteins of bacterial pathogens have been reported to be directly related to virulence-associated functions. In this minireview, we summarize the current knowledge of the TPR-containing proteins involved in virulence mechanisms of bacterial pathogens while highlighting the importance of TPR motifs for the proper functioning of class II chaperones of a type III secretion system in the pathogenesis of Yersinia, Pseudomonas, and Shigella.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs / genetics*
  • Bacteria / pathogenicity*
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / physiology
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins