title: The evolutionary 'tinkering' of MscS-like channels: generation of structural and functional diversity.
abstract: The mechanosensitive channel of small conductance (MscS)-like channel superfamily is present in cell-walled organisms throughout all domains of life (Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya). In bacteria, members of this channel family play an integral role in the protection of cells against acute downward shifts in environmental osmolarity. In this review, we discuss how evolutionary 'tinkering' has taken MscS-like channels from their currently accepted physiological function in bacterial osmoregulation to potential roles in processes as diverse as amino acid efflux, Ca(2+) regulation and cell division. We also illustrate how this structurally and functionally diverse family of channels represents an essential industrial component in the production of monosodium glutamate, an attractive antibiotic target and a rich source of membrane proteins for the studies of molecular evolution.
authors.affiliation: Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, 2010, Australia.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martinac
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000235:genetics; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000235:genetics*; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; C469542:MscS protein, E coli