title: PspA can form large scaffolds in Escherichia coli.
abstract: The phage shock protein A (PspA) of Escherichia coli stabilizes the cytoplasmic membrane under stress conditions. Here we demonstrate that PspA can form hollow spherical or prolate spheroidal particles of about 30-40nm diameter with a scaffold-like arrangement of protein subunits at the surface. The 'PspA-scaffold' is the basic structure that is common to all particles. The PspA-scaffold may be of fundamental importance, as it could allow PspA to stabilize the integrity of membranes through numerous contact points over a large surface area.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology/Microbiology, University of Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Strasse 3, D-06120 Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Standar
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mehner
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Osadnik
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berthelmann
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hause
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lünsdorf
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brüser
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; C069816:phage shock protein, Bacteria