title: Mechanosensitive channel of large conductance.
abstract: Microbial cells constitutively express the Large Conductance Mechanosensitive Channel which opens in response to stretch forces in the lipid bilayer. The channel protein forms a homopentamer with each subunit containing two transmembrane regions and gates via the bilayer mechanism evoked by hydrophobic mismatch and changes in the membrane curvature and/or transbilayer pressure profile. During the stationary phase and during osmotic shock the channel protein is up-regulated to prevent cell lysis. Pharmacological potential of MscL may involve discovery of new age antibiotics to combat multiple drug-resistant bacterial strains.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia. a.kloda@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kloda
authors.forename: Evgeny
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petrov
authors.forename: Grischa R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Thom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Annette C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Hurst
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hool
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martinac
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; C086596:MscL protein, E coli