The tatC gene cluster is essential for viability in halophilic archaea.
In prokaryotes the twin-arginine translocase (Tat) is a unique transport system for the export of folded proteins. The Tat pathway is usually involved in the export of a small proportion of extracytoplasmic proteins. An exception is found in halophilic archaea, in which the majority of secretory proteins have been predicted to be Tat-dependent. All haloarchaea analysed to date contain two genes encoding homologues of the Tat-component TatC. In all of these cases both genes are located adjacently on the chromosome, indicating that they form a functional unit. We show that this gene cluster is essential for viability in haloarchaea, which is in complete contrast to all other prokaryotes that have been tested thus far.
University of Warwick, Department of Biological Sciences, Coventry, UK.
Judith R
JR
Thomas
Albert
A
Bolhuis
D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D023061:Gene Order / Q000235:genetics; D016931:Halobacteriales / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000235:genetics*; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010957:Plasmids; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors
D017931:DNA Primers; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C461379:TatC protein, E coli