Crystalline Bacterial Cell Surface Layers

Sleytr, Uwe B.; Messner, Paul; Pum, Dietmar; Sara, Margit

Crystalline surface layers (S-layers) represent an almost universal feature of archaebacterial cell envelopes and can be found in gram-positive and gram-negative eubacterial species from nearly all phylogenetic branches. S-layers consist of a single protein- or glycoprotein species and thus can be considered as one of the most primitive membrane structures developed during evolution. Prokaryotes carrying S-layers are ubiquitously found in every part of the biosphere. This supports the concept of a general supramolecular "porous crystalline surface layer" fulfilling a broad spectrum of functions which are strongly dependent on the particular environmental and ecological conditions. Their structural simplicity makes S-layers a suitable model for analyzing structure-function relationships as well as dynamic aspects of membrane morphogenesis.

Details

Published by: Springer

Publication Date: 2011-12-16

Format: Paperback

ISBN-13: 9783642735394

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-73537-0

Dimensions: 244.0cm x170.0cm

Pages: 193.0