title: S-Layers as a basic building block in a molecular construction kit.
abstract: Crystalline arrays of protein or glycoprotein subunits forming surface layers (S-layers) are the most common outermost envelope components of prokaryotic organisms (archaea and bacteria). The wealth of information on the structure, chemistry, genetics, morphogenesis, and function of S-layers has revealed a broad application potential. As S-layers are periodic structures, they exhibit identical physicochemical properties for each molecular unit down to the subnanometer level and possess pores of identical size and morphology. Many applications of S-layers in nanobiotechnology depend on the ability of isolated subunits to recrystallize into monomolecular lattices in suspension or on suitable surfaces and interfaces. S-Layer lattices can be exploited as scaffolding and patterning elements for generating more complex supramolecular assemblies and structures, as required for life and nonlife science applications.
authors.affiliation: Center for NanoBiotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna, Austria. uwe.sleytr@boku.ac.at
authors.forename: Uwe B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Sleytr
authors.forename: Eva M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Egelseer
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ilk
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pum
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schuster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry; D003460:Crystallization; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008055:Lipids; D011108:Polymers; D011506:Proteins