Open AccessS‐layers: principles and applications
Author(s) -
Sleytr Uwe B.,
Schuster Bernhard,
Egelseer EvaMaria,
Pum Dietmar
Publication year - 2014
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 - 10.1111/1574-6976.12063
Subject(s) - cell envelope , archaea , biology , biofilm , flagellum , function (biology) , cell wall , bacteria , nanotechnology , computational biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , materials science , gene , escherichia coli
Monomolecular arrays of protein or glycoprotein subunits forming surface layers ( S ‐layers) are one of the most commonly observed prokaryotic cell envelope components. S ‐layers are generally the most abundantly expressed proteins, have been observed in species of nearly every taxonomical group of walled bacteria, and represent an almost universal feature of archaeal envelopes. The isoporous lattices completely covering the cell surface provide organisms with various selection advantages including functioning as protective coats, molecular sieves and ion traps, as structures involved in surface recognition and cell adhesion, and as antifouling layers. S ‐layers are also identified to contribute to virulence when present as a structural component of pathogens. In A rchaea , most of which possess S ‐layers as exclusive wall component, they are involved in determining cell shape and cell division. Studies on structure, chemistry, genetics, assembly, function, and evolutionary relationship of S ‐layers revealed considerable application potential in (nano)biotechnology, biomimetics, biomedicine, and synthetic biology.