Blue Native Protein Electrophoresis to Study the T3S System Using Yersinia pestis as a Model

Since the introduction of blue native, clear native, and high-resolution clear native electrophoresis to study protein complexes of eukaryotic, bacterial, and archaeal cells, the technique has been used primarily to study physiological systems that are found in abundance within the cell. Systems involved in oxidative phosphorylation, electron transport, membrane transporters, and secretion systems have been studied using these techniques. These microscale techniques are ideal due to the minimal perturbations caused to these protein complexes. The utility of the blue native electrophoresis method was determined in a study described here of protein complexes identified in the plague causing bacteria, Yersinia pestis. In addition, the technique was used to observe how LcrG, a negative regulator of the pathogenic Type III secretion system (T3SS), interacts with the T3SS and other protein complexes.