General secretion pathway protein

Function

General secretion pathway proteins (Eps) are used by gram-negative pathogenic bacteria to transport their virulence factors outside of the cell via type II secretion system or T2SS. Examples are the transport of cholera toxin by Vibrio cholerae and exotoxin A by Pseudomonas aeruginosa^[1]. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa the Eps are named Xcp. EpsG,H,I,J,K are named PulG, PulH, PulI, PulJ, PulK. See Pseudopilin.

Structural highlights

The 3D structure of the bacterial core shows a 15-fold rotationally symmetric PulD called secretin which inserts into the cell membrane and enables conductance of substrate intothe external environment^[2].