Question

(c) Would a Type II secretion system, like that used by V. cholerae for secretion of cholera toxin, be an effective system to secrete teixobactin from Eleftheria terrae? Explain your answer. (3)

Answer 1

Yes, type II secretion system, the one found in Vibrio cholerae can be an effective system to secrete teixobactin from Eleftheria terrae. TYpe II secretion system is a mechanism adopted by most pathogenic gram-negative bacteria for the extracellular secretion of toxins or proteins that breaks down the host biomolecules to cause infection. The introduction of this secretory pathway (genes for the proteins involved) along with a slightly modified teixobactin gene such that it has markers that are identified by the type II secretory pathway can be an effective system for the secretion of teixobactin from Eleftheria terrae.

Bioinformatic tools for 3D-structure prediction tools can be used initially to determine the effect of the marker amino acids on the overall structure and function of the teixobactin protein post secretion to ensure the effectiveness of using type II secretion system in Eleftheria terrae.