LcrH
LcrH is a small cytosolic protein that functions as a chaperone within the type III secretion system (T3SS) of several Gram-negative bacteria, most notably Yersinia species. The name LcrH derives from its association with the low calcium response (Lcr) regulon that governs T3SS expression in these organisms. LcrH acts as a substrate-specific chaperone, binding to effector proteins destined for secretion and stabilizing them in the bacterial cytoplasm. This chaperone activity helps prevent premature aggregation of hydrophobic secretion substrates and facilitates their delivery to the secretion apparatus.
Within the T3SS landscape, LcrH forms complexes with its substrate proteins and interfaces with other secretion
Genetically, lcrH is located within the T3SS gene cluster and its expression is coordinated with other virulence-associated
Structurally, LcrH is a relatively small acidic protein, commonly reported to be in the 14–20 kDa range,
Disruption of lcrH impairs secretion of Yersinia virulence factors and can attenuate virulence, highlighting its central