LLPS condensates of Fha initiate the inside-out assembly of the type VI secretion system

Abstract

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is one of the most powerful nanomachines employed by Gram-negative pathogens for penetrating diverse cell envelopes, including bacteria and fungi, to deliver potent effectors into target cells. While the membrane-anchored contractile tubular structure of the T6SS is well characterized, the assembly process remains poorly understood. The prevailing model suggests that the assembly of T6SS initiates from its outer-membrane component. Here, we report a distinct model that the cytoplasmic protein Fha initiates T6SS assembly in Acidovorax citrulli, an important plant pathogen. Fha dictates the formation of the inner-membrane complex and the baseplate, and directly interacts with these key components. Importantly, imaging and biochemical assays reveal that Fha undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), forming condensates that selectively recruit essential T6SS proteins, which are otherwise dispersed in cells. Fha also exhibited conserved functions in human pathogens Vibrio cholerae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These findings unveil an inside-first LLPS-driven model for T6SS assembly and suggest LLPS might be broadly involved in mediating the assembly of bacterial macromolecular complexes and facilitating interspecies interactions and pathogenesis. Significance statementThe T6SS plays a pivotal role in interspecies competition and host-microbe interactions by delivering toxins to various prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Its crucial function relies on a membrane-anchored macromolecular structure comprising at least 13 conserved components. However, the mechanisms governing the efficient assembly of its diverse cytosolic and membrane-bound components remain elusive. Here, we identify Fha, a conserved cytosolic protein, as a key initiator of T6SS assembly. Fha recruits multiple structural and effector components, forming LLPS condensates. Fha homologs of plant and human pathogens exhibit conserved functions. Our findings not only unveil an inside-first assembly model for the T6SS, initiating from inner-membrane and baseplate components, but also suggest LLPS may have a broader impact on bacterial physiology beyond intracellular activities.