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- Title
Expression, secretion and antigenic variation of bacterial S-layer proteins.
- Authors
Boot, Hein J.; Pouwels, Peter H.
- Abstract
The function of the S-layer, a regularly arranged structure on the outside of numerous bacteria, appears to be different for bacteria living in different environments. Almost no similarity exists between the primary sequences of S-proteins, although their amino acid composition is comparable. S-protein production is directed by single or multiple promoters in front of the S-protein gene, yielding stable mRNAs. Most bacteria secrete S-proteins via the general secretory pathway (GSP). Translocation of S-protein across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria sometimes occurs by S-protein-specific branches of the GSP. O-polysaccharide side-chains of the lipopolysaccharide component of the cell wait of Gram-negative bacteria appear to function as receptors for attachment of the S-layer. Silent S-protein genes have been found in <em>Campylobacter fetus</em> and <em>Lactobacillus acidophilus</em>. These silent genes are placed in the expression site in a fraction of the bacterial population via inversion of a chromosomal segment.
- Subjects
BACTERIA; AMINO acids; PROTEINS; GENES; POLYSACCHARIDES; LACTOBACILLUS
- Publication
Molecular Microbiology, 1996, Vol 21, Issue 6, p1117
- ISSN
0950-382X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1046/j.1365-2958.1996.711442.x