Functions and Regulation of the Outer Membrane Protein TolC in Vibrio Species

TolC, a multifunctional outer membrane protein, creates a continuous conduit that extrudes substrates from the bacterial periplasm and the outer leaflet of the inner membrane to the external environment. TolC of Vibrio species functions as an outer membrane protein of multiple exporters, and is involved in antibiotic efflux, regulation and export of virulence factors, iron homeostasis, and survival under various extreme environments, thereby playing an indispensable role in the pathogenesis of Vibrio species. This review recapitulates the current knowledge about the functions and regulators of TolC homologous proteins in Vibrio species.