Structure and dynamic association of an assembly platform subcomplex of the bacterial type II secretion system

International audienceType II secretion systems (T2SS) allow diderm bacteria to secrete hydrolytic enzymes, adhesins or toxins important for growth and virulence. To promote secretion of folded proteins, T2SSs assemble periplasmic filaments called pseudopili or endopili at an inner membrane subcomplex or the assembly platform (AP). Here, we combined biophysical approaches, NMR and X-ray crystallography to study the Klebsiella AP components PulL and PulM. We determined the structure and associations of their periplasmic domains and describe the first structure of the heterodimer formed by their ferredoxin-like domains. We show how structural complementarity and plasticity favor their association during the secretion process. Cysteine scanning and cross-linking data provided additional constraints to build a structural model of the PulL-PulM assembly in the cellular context. Our structural and functional insights, together with the relative cellular abundance of its components, support the role of AP as a dynamic hub that orchestrates pilus polymerization