title: New features of the cell wall of the radio-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans.
abstract: We have analyzed the cell wall of the radio-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans. Unexpectedly, the bacterial envelope appears to be organized in different complexes of high molecular weight. Each complex is composed of several proteins, most of which are coded by genes of unknown function and the majority are constituents of the inner/outer membrane system. One of the most abundant complexes is constituted by the gene DR_0774. This protein is a type of secretin which is a known subunit of the homo-oligomeric channel that represents the main bulk of the type IV piliation family. Finally, a minor component of the pink envelope consists of several inner-membrane proteins. The implications of these findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Plant Physiology, University of Cagliari, V.le S. Ingnazio da Laconi 13, 09123 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Farci
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble Outstation, 6 Rue Jules Horowitz, 38042 Grenoble, France; Unit for Virus Host Cell Interactions, Univ. Grenoble Alpes-EMBL-CNRS, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, 38042 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Bowler
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstraße 1, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
authors.affiliation: European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 6 Rue Jules Horowitz, 38000 Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McSweeney
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Virology, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, SS 554, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tramontano
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Plant Physiology, University of Cagliari, V.le S. Ingnazio da Laconi 13, 09123 Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: dario.piano@unica.it.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piano
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034301:Deinococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012633:Secretin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012633:Secretin
keywords: Cell wall; Deinococcus radiodurans; Hexagonally packed intermediate; Inner membrane; Outer membrane; S-layer