YscV

YscV is a protein encoded by the yscV gene in Yersinia species and is a component of the Ysc-Yop type III secretion system (T3SS). This secretion system is a virulence apparatus used by pathogenic Yersinia to inject effector proteins into host cells.

YscV is among the core structural components of the T3SS basal body. It is typically localized to the cytoplasmic side of the inner membrane and is thought to contribute to the assembly and stability of the secretion apparatus. In some models, YscV participates in the formation of cytoplasmic rings or in the organization of a sorting platform that coordinates substrate selection and secretion.

Functional studies indicate that loss or disruption of yscV impairs secretion of effector proteins and reduces virulence in infection models, underscoring its essential role in T3SS function. YscV is conserved across Yersinia species and has homologs in other bacteria that possess T3SSs, reflecting its role in a common secretion mechanism.

Although detailed structural information is limited, YscV is predicted to be largely α-helical and capable of oligomerization, which would support its proposed scaffolding role within the basal body.

Further reading includes reviews of the Ysc-Yop T3SS and comparative analyses of T3SS core components.