Systematic genetic nomenclature for type VII secretion systems
Date
2009
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Abstract
Mycobacteria, such as the etiological
agent of human tuberculosis, Mycobacterium
tuberculosis, are protected by an impermeable
cell envelope composed of an inner
cytoplasmic membrane, a peptidoglycan
layer, an arabinogalactan layer, and an
outer membrane. This second membrane
consists of covalently linked, tightly packed
long-chain mycolic acids [1,2] and noncovalently
bound shorter lipids involved in
pathogenicity [3–5]. To ensure protein
transport across this complex cell envelope,
mycobacteria use various secretion pathways,
such as the SecA1-mediated general
secretory pathway [6,7], an alternative
SecA2-operated pathway [8], a twin-arginine
translocation system [9,10], and a
specialized secretion pathway variously
named ESAT-6-, SNM-, ESX-, or type
VII secretion [11–16]. The latter pathway,
hereafter referred to as type VII secretion
(T7S), has recently become a large and
competitive research topic that is closely
linked to studies of host–pathogen interactions
of M. tuberculosis [17] and other
pathogenic mycobacteria [16]. Molecular
details are just beginning to be revealed
[18–22] showing that T7S systems are
complex machineries with multiple components
and multiple substrates. Despite
their biological importance, there has been
a lack of a clear naming policy for the
components and substrates of these systems.
As there are multiple paralogous T7S
systems within the Mycobacteria and
orthologous systems in related bacteria,
we are concerned that, without a unified
nomenclature system, a multitude of redundant
and obscure gene names will be
used that will inevitably lead to confusion
and hinder future progress. In this opinion
piece we will therefore propose and introduce
a systematic nomenclature with
guidelines for name selection of new
components that will greatly facilitate
communication and understanding in this
rapidly developing field of research.
Description
CITATION: Bitter, W., et al. 2009. Systematic genetic nomenclature for type VII secretion systems. PLoS Pathogens, 5(10): 1-6, doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000507.
The original publication is available at http://journals.plos.org/plospathogens
The original publication is available at http://journals.plos.org/plospathogens
Keywords
Systematic genetic nomenclature, Mycobacteria -- Nomenclature, Type VII secretion systems, Protein pathways
Citation
Bitter, W., et al. 2009. Systematic genetic nomenclature for type VII secretion systems. PLoS Pathogens, 5(10): 1-6, doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000507