title: Role of S-layer proteins in bacteria.
abstract: S-layers are paracrystalline bidimensional arrays of proteins or glycoproteins that overlay the cell surface of several genus and species of bacteria and archaea. As the outermost layer of several genus and species of microorganisms, S-layer proteins (SLP) are in direct contact with bacterial environment and thus may be involved in many of their surface properties, including adherence to various substrates, mucins and eukaryotic cells, aggregation and coaggregation with yeasts and other bacteria. In addition, SLP have been reported to be responsible for the bacterial protection against detrimental environmental conditions and to play an important role in surface recognition or as carriers of virulence factors. In this mini-review, we bring together the latest evidences about functional and mechanical properties of bacterial SLP from two different perspectives: (A) their role on bacterial adherence to different substrates and surfaces, and (B) their role as mechanical barriers in bacterial harmful environments.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Development in Food Cryotechnology (CIDCA) CCT-CONICET La Plata, Calle 47 y 116, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gerbino
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Microbiología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carasi
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Development in Food Cryotechnology (CIDCA) CCT-CONICET La Plata, Calle 47 y 116, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mobili
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Microbiología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Serradell
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Development in Food Cryotechnology (CIDCA) CCT-CONICET La Plata, Calle 47 y 116, 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. angoza@qui.uc.pt.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez-Zavaglia
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C055764:S-layer proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: Adhesion; Aggregation; Biofilm formation; Interaction with the immune system; Resistance to adverse environmental conditions; S-layer proteins