title: Function of pseudomonas porins in uptake and efflux.
abstract: Porins are proteins that form water-filled channels across the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria and thus make this membrane semipermeable. There are four types of porins: general/nonspecific porins, substrate-specific porins, gated porins, and efflux porins (also called channel-tunnels). The recent publication of the genomic sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 has dramatically increased our understanding of the porins of this organism. In particular this organism has 3 large families of porins: the OprD family of specific porins (19 members), the OprM family of efflux porins (18 members), and the TonB-interacting family of gated porins (35 members). These familial relationships underlie functional similarities such that well-studied members of these families become prototypes for other members. We summarize here the latest information on these porins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada V6T 1Z3. bob@cmdr.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Robert E W
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.forename: Fiona S L
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Brinkman
mesh_terms: D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D008958:Models, Molecular; D018272:Porins / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018272:Porins