MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
Microbiology (Reading). 2022 May;168(5). doi: 10.1099/mic.0.001193.
Protein trafficking across the bacterial envelope is a process that contributes to the organisation and integrity of the cell. It is the foundation for establishing contact and exchange between the environment and the cytosol. It helps cells to communicate with one another, whether they establish symbiotic or competitive behaviours. It is instrumental for pathogenesis and for bacteria to subvert the host immune response. Understanding the formation of envelope conduits and the manifold strategies employed for moving macromolecules across these channels is a fascinating playground. The diversity of the nanomachines involved in this process logically resulted in an attempt to classify them, which is where the protein secretion system types emerged. As our knowledge grew, so did the number of types, and their rightful nomenclature started to be questioned. While this may seem a semantic or philosophical issue, it also reflects scientific rigour when it comes to assimilating findings into textbooks and science history. Here I give an overview on bacterial protein secretion systems, their history, their nomenclature and why it can be misleading for newcomers in the field. Note that I do not try to suggest a new nomenclature. Instead, I explore the reasons why naming could have escaped our control and I try to reiterate basic concepts that underlie protein trafficking cross membranes.
蛋白质在细菌包膜中的转运是一个有助于细胞组织和完整性的过程。它是建立环境与细胞质之间联系和交换的基础。它有助于细胞之间的交流，无论是建立共生还是竞争行为。它对于发病机制和细菌颠覆宿主免疫反应至关重要。了解包膜管道的形成以及用于将大分子穿过这些通道的多种策略是一个引人入胜的领域。参与这个过程的纳米机器的多样性自然而然地导致了对它们进行分类的尝试，这就是蛋白质分泌系统类型出现的原因。随着我们知识的增长，类型的数量也在增加，它们的正确命名法开始受到质疑。虽然这似乎是一个语义或哲学问题，但在将发现纳入教科书和科学史时，它也反映了科学严谨性。在这里，我概述了细菌蛋白质分泌系统的历史、命名法以及为什么它会对该领域的新手产生误导。请注意，我并不是试图提出一个新的命名法。相反，我探讨了为什么命名可能已经失控，并尝试重申构成跨膜蛋白质运输基础的基本概念。
