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HERO ID
1063195
Reference Type
Journal Article
Subtype
Review
Title
The protein shells of bacterial microcompartment organelles
Author(s)
Yeates, TO; Thompson, MC; Bobik, TA
Year
2011
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Current Opinion in Structural Biology
ISSN:
0959-440X
Volume
21
Issue
2
Page Numbers
223-231
Language
English
PMID
21315581
DOI
10.1016/j.sbi.2011.01.006
Web of Science Id
WOS:000290009600011
Abstract
Details are emerging on the structure and function of a remarkable class of capsid-like protein assemblies that serve as simple metabolic organelles in many bacteria. These bacterial microcompartments consist of a few thousand shell proteins, which encapsulate two or more sequentially acting enzymes in order to enhance or sequester certain metabolic pathways, particularly those involving toxic or volatile intermediates. Genomic data indicate that bacterial microcompartment shell proteins are present in a wide range of bacterial species, where they encapsulate varied reactions. Crystal structures of numerous shell proteins from distinct types of microcompartments have provided keys for understanding how the shells are assembled and how they conduct molecular transport into and out of microcompartments. The structural data emphasize a high level of mechanistic sophistication in the protein shell, and point the way for further studies on this fascinating but poorly appreciated class of subcellular structures.
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