title: Architecture and signal transduction mechanism of the bacterial chemosensory array: progress, controversies, and challenges.
abstract: Recent research has deepened our understanding of the ancient, conserved chemosensory array that detects small molecule attractants and repellents, and directs the chemotaxis of bacterial and archaeal cells towards an optimal chemical environment. Here we review advances towards a molecular description of the ultrastable lattice architecture and ultrasensitive signal transduction mechanism of the chemosensory array, as well as controversies and challenges requiring further research. Ultimately, a full molecular understanding of array structure and on-off switching will foster (i) the design of novel therapies that block pathogenic wound seeking and infection, (ii) the development of highly specific, sensitive, stable biosensors, and (iii) the elucidation of general functional principles shared by receptor patches in all branches of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Molecular Biophysics Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0215, USA. Electronic address: falke@colorado.edu.
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Falke
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Molecular Biophysics Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0215, USA.
authors.forename: Kene N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Piasta
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D002633:Chemotaxis; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes