Open AccessLactobacillus surface layers and their applications
Author(s) -
ÅvallJääskeläinen Silja,
Palva Airi
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
fems microbiology reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.91
H-Index - 212
eISSN - 1574-6976
pISSN - 0168-6445
DOI - 10.1016/j.fmrre.2005.04.003
Subject(s) - s layer , lactobacillus , biology , archaea , bacteria , layer (electronics) , structural similarity , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , genetics , nanotechnology , materials science
Surface (S‐) layers are crystalline arrays of proteinaceous subunits present as the outermost component of cell wall in several species of the genus Lactobacillus , as well as in many other bacteria and Archaea. Despite the high similarity of the amino acid composition of all known S‐layer proteins, the overall sequence similarity is, however, surprisingly small even between the Lactobacillus S‐layer proteins. In addition, the typical characteristics of Lactobacillus S‐layer proteins, distinguishing them from other S‐layer proteins, are small size and high‐predicted p I value. Several lactobacilli possess multiple S‐layer protein genes, which can be differentially or simultaneously expressed. To date, the characterized functions of Lactobacillus S‐layers are involved in mediating adhesion to different host tissues. A few applications for the S‐layer proteins of lactobacilli already exist, including their use as antigen delivery vehicles.