Many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens use type III secretion systems (T3SS) to inject proteins into eukaryotic cells to subvert normal cellular functions. The T3SS apparatus (injectisome) shares a common architecture in all systems studied thus far, comprising three major components - the cytoplasmic sorting platform, envelope-spanning basal body and external needle with tip complex. The sorting platform consists of an ATPase (SctN) connected to "pods" (SctQ) having six-fold symmetry via radial spokes (SctL). These pods interface with the 24-fold symmetric SctD inner membrane ring (IR) via an adaptor protein (SctK). Here we report the first high-resolution structure of a SctK protein family member, PscK from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as the structure of its interacting partner, the cytoplasmic domain of PscD (SctD). The cytoplasmic domain of PscD forms a forkhead-associated (FHA) fold, like that of its homologues from other T3SS. PscK, on the other hand, forms a helix-rich structure that does not resemble any known protein fold. Based on these structural findings, we present the first model for an interaction between proteins from the sorting platform and the IR. We also test the importance of the PscD residues predicted to mediate this electrostatic interaction using a two-hybrid analysis. The functional need for these residues in vivo was then confirmed by monitoring secretion of the effector ExoU. These structures will contribute to the development of atomic-resolution models of the entire sorting platform and to our understanding of the mechanistic interface between the sorting platform and the basal body of the injectisome.
Keywords: PscD/SctD; PscK/SctK; basal body; sorting platform; type III secretion system.
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