Bacterial type VI secretion apparatus

A contractile bacterial secretion nanomachine assembled from an envelope-spanning membrane complex, a cytoplasmic baseplate, an Hcp tube surrounded by a TssBC sheath, a VgrG puncturing tip, and the ClpV ATPase that recycles contracted sheath. Cargo effectors, cognate immunity proteins, cargo-specific adapters, and global transcriptional regulation are outside this conserved structural boundary.

MODULE:bacterial_type_vi_secretion_apparatusDRAFTBiological Processmodules/bacterial_type_vi_secretion_apparatus.yaml
protein secretion by the type VI secretion systemGO:0033103 type VI protein secretion system complexGO:0033104
GO:0033103
protein secretion by the type VI secretion system
GO process represented by the assembled apparatus.
GO:0033104
type VI protein secretion system complex
GO cellular-component term represented by the assembled structural subunits.
PMID:36748579
Transcriptional organization and regulation of the Pseudomonas putida K1 type VI secretion system gene cluster.
Figure 2a presents the KT2440 K1 structural- and vgrG-operon maps; the accompanying text experimentally establishes their transcriptional organization and distinguishes the structural apparatus from adapters, effectors, and immunity proteins.
file:projects/P_PUTIDA/deep-research/PSEPK__bacterial_type_vi_secretion_apparatus__ppu03070-deep-research-openscientist.md
OpenScientist PSEPK ppu03070 type VI secretion satisfiability review
The species/pathway/taxon report confirms that the K1 apparatus satisfies the reusable core and separates it from the other secretion systems in the broad ppu03070 bucket. Its proposed PP_3090/PP_3091 split-TssM interpretation is not adopted because direct locus and architecture evidence identify PP_3090 as the TagP1 accessory and PP_3091 as TssM1.
PMID:26200339
Biogenesis and structure of a type VI secretion membrane core complex.
Establishes the TssJLM trans-envelope membrane-complex architecture.
PMID:26460929
The Type VI Secretion TssEFGK-VgrG Phage-Like Baseplate Is Recruited to the TssJLM Membrane Complex via Multiple Contacts and Serves As Assembly Platform for Tail Tube/Sheath Polymerization.
Establishes the membrane-complex, baseplate/spike, and tail assembly hierarchy and the TssEFGK-VgrG interaction network.
PMID:28947741
Cryo-EM structure of the extended type VI secretion system sheath-tube complex.
Resolves the extended TssBC sheath around the Hcp tube and its contraction-coupled remodeling.
PMID:23289512
ClpV recycles VipA/VipB tubules and prevents non-productive tubule formation to ensure efficient type VI protein secretion.
Establishes the ATPase-dependent recycling role of ClpV after sheath contraction.

The conserved apparatus boundary contains TssJLM, TssEFGK, TssA, Hcp/TssD, TssBC, VgrG, and ClpV/TssH. System-specific stabilizers, post-translational regulators, adapters, cargo effectors, and immunity proteins are excluded. The PSEPK K1 realization, including its TagP1, TagB1, and TagF1 accessories, is documented in the corresponding project batch rather than encoded as a universal property of this module.

6Nodes
5Parts
0Variant Sets
0Variants
13Annotons
4Connections

Derived QC

Recommended-field compliance

100.0% recommended fields populated

All recommended fields populated.

Module deep research

✗ none found

No MODULE:bacterial_type_vi_secretion_apparatus deep-research report alongside the module YAML.

Leaf nodes lacking representative members

✓ every leaf node grounds to a representative protein.

Template conformance

✓ every declared conforms_to bundle matches its template motif.

Gene-review completeness (13/26 grounded genes reviewed)

13 complete review(s) · 0 with deep research · 13 missing review · 13 reviewed but lacking deep research

Gene Review Complete Deep research
clpV Q88IA4 ✓ ✓ ✗
PP_3088 Q88IB1 ✓ ✓ ✗
PP_3089 Q88IB0 ✓ ✓ ✗
PP_3091 Q88IA8 ✓ ✓ ✗
PP_3092 Q88IA7 ✓ ✓ ✗
PP_3093 Q88IA6 ✓ ✓ ✗
PP_3094 Q88IA5 ✓ ✓ ✗
PP_3096 Q88IA3 ✓ ✓ ✗
PP_3097 Q88IA2 ✓ ✓ ✗
PP_3098 Q88IA1 ✓ ✓ ✗
PP_3100 Q88I99 ✓ ✓ ✗
PP_3106 Q88I93 ✓ ✓ ✗
puuD Q88IA0 ✓ ✓ ✗
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 H1-T6SS VgrG1a exemplar Q9I741 ✗ — —
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 ClpV1 exemplar Q9I742 ✗ — —
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssG1 exemplar Q9I743 ✗ — —
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssF1 exemplar Q9I744 ✗ — —
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssE1 exemplar Q9I745 ✗ — —
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 Hcp1 exemplar Q9I747 ✗ — —
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssC1 exemplar Q9I748 ✗ — —
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssB1 exemplar Q9I749 ✗ — —
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssA1 exemplar Q9I750 ✗ — —
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssJ1 exemplar Q9I752 ✗ — —
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssK1 exemplar Q9I753 ✗ — —
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssL1 exemplar Q9I754 ✗ — —
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssM1 exemplar Q9I755 ✗ — —

Details

Context
bacteriaNCBITaxon:2
Bacterial type VI secretion apparatusBiological Processbacterial_type_vi_secretion_apparatus
protein secretion by the type VI secretion systemGO:0033103 type VI protein secretion system complexGO:0033104
Context
bacteriaNCBITaxon:2

Connections

t6ss_membrane_complex -> t6ss_baseplate Provides Input For
t6ss_baseplate -> t6ss_vgrg_tip Provides Input For
t6ss_vgrg_tip -> t6ss_contractile_tail Provides Input For
Part 1: Envelope-spanning membrane complex
TssJLM membrane complexProtein Complext6ss_membrane_complex

TssJ, TssL, and TssM anchor the apparatus across the cell envelope.

Annotons

TssJ outer-membrane lipoprotein
tssj_outer_membrane_anchor
Participant: Family: TssJ family
Family:
TssJ familyInterPro:IPR017734
Representative Members: Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssJ1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q9I752 PSEPK K1 TssJ1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q88IA5

Function

structural molecule activityGO:0005198

Processes

protein secretion by the type VI secretion systemGO:0033103

Outer-membrane lipoprotein component of the membrane complex.

TssL inner-membrane component
tssl_inner_membrane_anchor
Participant: Family: TssL family
Family:
TssL familyInterPro:IPR017732
Representative Members: Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssL1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q9I754 PSEPK K1 TssL1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q88IA7

Function

structural molecule activityGO:0005198

Processes

protein secretion by the type VI secretion systemGO:0033103

Inner-membrane component linking the membrane complex to the baseplate.

TssM trans-envelope component
tssm_transenvelope_component
Participant: Family: TssM family
Family:
TssM familyInterPro:IPR048677 The discriminating TssM1 helical-region signature is used together with the full-length multi-pass membrane architecture and TssM locus context. A broad TssM-like hit alone does not distinguish full-length TssM from TagP-like accessories.
Representative Members: Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssM1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q9I755 PSEPK K1 TssM1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q88IA8

Function

structural molecule activityGO:0005198

Processes

protein secretion by the type VI secretion systemGO:0033103

Large inner-membrane protein completing the trans-envelope complex.

Part 2: Baseplate assembly
TssEFGK baseplateProtein Complext6ss_baseplate

TssE, TssF, TssG, and TssK form the cytoplasmic assembly platform.

Annotons

TssE baseplate subunit
tsse_baseplate_subunit
Participant: Family: TssE family
Family:
TssE familyInterPro:IPR017737
Representative Members: Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssE1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q9I745 PSEPK K1 TssE1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q88IA1

Function

structural molecule activityGO:0005198

Processes

protein secretion by the type VI secretion systemGO:0033103

Phage gp25-like baseplate component.

TssF baseplate subunit
tssf_baseplate_subunit
Participant: Family: TssF family
Family:
TssF familyInterPro:IPR010272
Representative Members: Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssF1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q9I744 PSEPK K1 TssF1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q88IA2

Function

structural molecule activityGO:0005198

Processes

protein secretion by the type VI secretion systemGO:0033103

Structural baseplate component.

TssG baseplate subunit
tssg_baseplate_subunit
Participant: Family: TssG family
Family:
TssG familyInterPro:IPR010732
Representative Members: Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssG1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q9I743 PSEPK K1 TssG1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q88IA3

Function

structural molecule activityGO:0005198

Processes

protein secretion by the type VI secretion systemGO:0033103

Structural baseplate component.

TssK baseplate connector
tssk_baseplate_connector
Participant: Family: TssK family
Family:
TssK familyInterPro:IPR010263
Representative Members: Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssK1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q9I753 PSEPK K1 TssK1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q88IA6

Function

structural molecule activityGO:0005198

Processes

protein secretion by the type VI secretion systemGO:0033103

Connects the baseplate to the membrane complex.

Part 3: Puncturing tip
VgrG puncturing tipProtein Complext6ss_vgrg_tip

A VgrG spike caps the Hcp tube and provides an effector-delivery interface.

Annotons

VgrG tip component
vgrg_tip_component
Participant: Family: VgrG family
Family:
VgrG familyInterPro:IPR006533
Representative Members: Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 H1-T6SS VgrG1a exemplarUniProtKB:Q9I741 PSEPK K1 VgrG1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q88I93

Function

structural molecule activityGO:0005198

Processes

protein secretion by the type VI secretion systemGO:0033103

Conserved expelled spike at the end of the Hcp tube.

Part 4: Contractile tube and sheath assembly
Hcp tube and TssBC sheathProtein Complext6ss_contractile_tail

TssA coordinates extension of the Hcp tube within a contractile TssBC sheath.

Annotons

TssA assembly coordinator
tssa_assembly_coordinator
Participant: Family: TssA family
Family:
TssA familyInterPro:IPR017740
Representative Members: Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssA1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q9I750 PSEPK K1 TssA1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q88IB1

Function

structural molecule activityGO:0005198

Processes

protein secretion by the type VI secretion systemGO:0033103

Coordinates polymerization at the growing distal end.

Hcp inner-tube subunit
hcp_inner_tube
Participant: Family: Hcp/TssD family
Family:
Hcp/TssD familyInterPro:IPR008514
Representative Members: Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 Hcp1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q9I747 PSEPK K1 Hcp1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q88IB0

Function

structural molecule activityGO:0005198

Processes

protein secretion by the type VI secretion systemGO:0033103

Polymerizes into the expelled inner tube and can carry cargo.

TssB sheath subunit
tssb_sheath_subunit
Participant: Family: TssB family
Family:
TssB familyInterPro:IPR008312
Representative Members: Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssB1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q9I749 PSEPK K1 TssB1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q88I99

Function

structural molecule activityGO:0005198

Processes

protein secretion by the type VI secretion systemGO:0033103

Forms the contractile sheath together with TssC.

TssC sheath subunit
tssc_sheath_subunit
Participant: Family: TssC family
Family:
TssC familyInterPro:IPR010269
Representative Members: Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 TssC1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q9I748 PSEPK K1 TssC1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q88IA0

Function

structural molecule activityGO:0005198

Processes

protein secretion by the type VI secretion systemGO:0033103

Forms the contractile sheath together with TssB.

Part 5: Contracted-sheath recycling
ClpV-dependent sheath recyclingReactiont6ss_sheath_recycling

ClpV uses ATP hydrolysis to disassemble and recycle contracted TssBC sheath.

Annotons

ClpV sheath-disassembly ATPase
clpv_sheath_disassembly_atpase
Participant: Family: ClpV family
Family:
ClpV familyInterPro:IPR017729
Representative Members: Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 ClpV1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q9I742 PSEPK K1 ClpV1 exemplarUniProtKB:Q88IA4

Function

ATP hydrolysis activityGO:0016887

Processes

protein secretion by the type VI secretion systemGO:0033103

Remodels the contracted sheath for another firing cycle.