title: Molecular biology of S-layers.
abstract: In this chapter we report on the molecular biology of crystalline surface layers of different bacterial groups. The limited information indicates that there are many variations on a common theme. Sequence variety, antigenic diversity, gene expression, rearrangements, influence of environmental factors and applied aspects are addressed. There is considerable variety in the S-layer composition, which was elucidated by sequence analysis of the corresponding genes. In Corynebacterium glutamicum one major cell wall protein is responsible for the formation of a highly ordered, hexagonal array. In contrast, two abundant surface proteins from the S-layer of Bacillus anthracis. Each protein possesses three S-layer homology motifs and one protein could be a virulence factor. The antigenic diversity and ABC transporters are important features, which have been studied in methanogenic archaea. The expression of the S-layer components is controlled by three genes in the case of Thermus thermophilus. One has repressor activity on the S-layer gene promoter, the second codes for the S-layer protein. The rearrangement by reciprocal recombination was investigated in Campylobacter fetus. 7-8 S-layer proteins with a high degree of homology at the 5' and 3' ends were found. Environmental changes influence the surface properties of Bacillus stearothermophilus. Depending on oxygen supply, this species produces different S-layer proteins. Finally, the molecular bases for some applications are discussed. Recombinant S-layer fusion proteins have been designed for biotechnology.
authors.affiliation: Universität Rostock, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bahl
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bayan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chami
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leblon
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gulik-Krzywicki
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shechter
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fouet
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mesnage
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tosi-Couture
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gounon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mock
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Conway de Macario
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Macario
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Fernández-Herrero
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Olabarría
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berenguer
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Blaser
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kuen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lubitz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sára
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Pouwels
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Kolen
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Boot
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Resch
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000940:Antigenic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001407:Bacillus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016963:Thermus thermophilus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins