Structural insights into Pseudomonas aeruginosaType six secretion system exported effector 8

[Display omitted] •We have determined the first crystal structure of Tse8 at atomic resolution.•Tse8 has a large pocket containing a putative catalytic triad Lys84-transSer162-Ser186, highly conserved within the Amidase Signature (AS) superfamily.•The work highlights the similarity between Tse8 and two family members, the S. maltophilia Peptide Amidase, and the Glutamyl-tRNAGln amidotransferase subunit A from S. aureus.•This work is particularly relevant towards understanding the role of T6SS-dependent effectors in bacterial competition. Recent reports indicate that the Type six secretion system exported effector 8 (Tse8) is a cytoactive effector secreted by the Type VI secretion system (T6SS) of the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The T6SS is a nanomachine that assembles inside of the bacteria and injects effectors/toxins into target cells, providing a fitness advantage over competing bacteria and facilitating host colonisation. Here we present the first crystal structure of Tse8 revealing that it conserves the architecture of the catalytic triad Lys84-transSer162-Ser186 that characterises members of the Amidase Signature superfamily. Furthermore, using binding affinity experiments, we show that the interaction of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) to Tse8 is dependent on the putative catalytic residue Ser186, providing support for its nucleophilic reactivity. This work thus demonstrates that Tse8 belongs to the Amidase Signature (AS) superfamily. Furthermore, it highlights Tse8 similarity to two family members: the Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Peptide Amidase and the Glutamyl-tRNAGln amidotransferase subunit A from Staphylococcus aureus.