The Outer Membrane Vesicles: Secretion System Type zero

Abstract Gram‐negative bacteria have mechanisms through which they can colonize and survive in different environments, such as the secretion systems types (1–6) that have been widely studied and characterized. Nowadays, some authors have proposed extracellular structures, such as the outer membrane vesicles, to be considered as an additional and independent secretion system. The outer membrane vesicles are spherical particles of 50–250 nm in diameter; they originate in the outer membrane, therefore, they have a very similar composition to the latter. These particles can transport an important variety of biomolecules: enzymes, toxins, antigenic determinants and even nucleic acids. Thus, it is of great interest to collect data describing the advantages of the transport of biomolecules through the outer membrane vesicles, and thus, determine their role as a potential secretion system.
Source: Traffic - Category: Research Authors: Tags: REVIEW Source Type: research