VirB6 and VirB10 from the Brucella type IV secretion system interact via the N-terminal periplasmic domain of VirB6

Type IV secretion systems are multi-protein complexes that transfer macromolecules across the cell envelope of bacteria. Identifying the sites of interaction between the twelve proteins (VirB1-VirB11 and VirD4) that form these complexes is key to understanding their assembly and function. We have here used phage display, bacterial two-hybrid and fluorescence-based interaction assays to identify an N-terminal domain of the inner membrane protein VirB6 as a site of interaction with the envelope-spanning VirB10 protein. Our results are consistent with the notion that VirB6 acts in concert with VirB10 as well as with VirB8 during secretion system assembly and function.