Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40980881›Full record

ArticlemBio2025

TssW-PpkA-Fha axis controls the positioning and initiation of the type VI secretion system in

Tong-Tong Pei, Xing-Yu Wang, Zi-Yan Ye, Yi-Qiu Zhang, Jing-Tong Su, Han Luo, Ya-Jie Zhao, Hao-Yu Zheng, Zhu Si, Ying An and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in mBio, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Tong-Tong PeiSchool of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.ORCID 0009-0004-8241-8896
Xing-Yu WangSchool of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Zi-Yan YeSchool of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Yi-Qiu ZhangSchool of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Jing-Tong SuSchool of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Han LuoState Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Ya-Jie ZhaoSchool of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Hao-Yu ZhengSchool of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Zhu SiCryo-electron Microscopy Center, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Ying AnSchool of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Xiaoye LiangSchool of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Tao DongSchool of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.ORCID 0000-0003-3557-1850

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Understanding how bacteria spatially regulate their molecular weaponry is key to unraveling their virulence and survival strategies in competitive ecosystems. The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a highly potent contractile nanomachine that promotes bacterial survival by targeting competitors and hosts. While T6SS functionality has been extensively linked to the diversity of secreted effectors, the role of accessory components in spatially regulating its activity remains less understood. Here, we uncover that two membrane components, PpkA and TssW, are crucial modulators of T6SS efficacy in the plant pathogen IMPORTANCE: How cells determine where to assemble a macromolecular complex is a fundamental question in biology since the localization of these complexes is directly linked to functions. In bacteria, the type VI secretion system (T6SS) relies on effective positioning to target competitor and host cells in contact-dependent interactions. This study identifies a PpkA-TssW-Fha axis that orchestrates T6SS localization and activation through membrane anchoring and liquid-liquid phase separation at the inner membrane interface. These new insights can help us not only better understand how the T6SS functions but also better design T6SS-based solutions for therapeutic targeting of drug-resistant and T6SS-susceptible bacterial and fungal pathogens.

Indexed as

Bacterial ProteinsComamonadaceaeMembrane ProteinsType VI Secretion SystemsGene Expression Regulation, BacterialBacterial ProteinsMembrane ProteinsType VI Secretion SystemsAcidovoraxLLPSphosphorylationPpkAprotein secretion

Identifiers

PMID40980881
PMCPMC12607579

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.