title: [Surface layers of methanotrophic bacteria].
abstract: Structural and functional characteristics of the regular glycoprotein layers in prokaryotes are analyzed with a special emphasis on aerobic methanotrophic bacteria. S-layers are present at the surfaces of Methylococcus, Methylothermus, and Methylomicrobium cells. Different Methylomicrobium species either synthesize S-layers with planar (p2, p4) symmetry or form cup-shaped or conicalstructures with hexagonal (p6) symmetry. A unique, copper-binding polypeptide 'CorA'/MopE (27/45 kDa), which is coexpressed with the diheme periplasmic cytochrome c peroxidase 'CorB'/Mca (80 kDa) was found in Methylomicrobium album BG8, Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z, and Methylococcus capsulatus Bath. This tandem of the surface proteins is functionally analogous to a new siderophore, methanobactin. Importantly, no 'CorA'/MopE homologue was found in methanotrophs not forming S-layers. The role of surface proteins in copper metabolism and initial methane oxidation is discussed.
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Khmelenina
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Suzina
authors.forename: Iu A
authors.initials: IuA
authors.lastname: Trotsenko
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D020618:Methylococcus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C055764:S-layer proteins