Back to Search
Start Over
Structural biology of microbial gas vesicles: historical milestones and current knowledge.
- Source :
-
Biochemical Society transactions [Biochem Soc Trans] 2024 Feb 28; Vol. 52 (1), pp. 205-215. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Gas vesicles mediate buoyancy-based motility in aquatic bacteria and archaea and are the only protein-based structures known to enclose a gas-filled volume. Their unique physicochemical properties and ingenious architecture rank them among the most intriguing macromolecular assemblies characterised to date. This review covers the 60-year journey in quest for a high-resolution structural model of gas vesicles, first highlighting significant strides made in establishing the detailed ultrastructure of gas vesicles through transmission electron microscopy, X-ray fibre diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and NMR spectroscopy. We then survey the recent progress in cryogenic electron microscopy studies of gas vesicles, which eventually led to a comprehensive atomic model of the mature assembly. Synthesising insight from these structures, we examine possible mechanisms of gas vesicle biogenesis and growth, presenting a testable model to guide future experimental work. We conclude by discussing future directions in the structural biology of gas vesicles, particularly considering advancements in AI-driven structure prediction.<br /> (© 2024 The Author(s).)
- Subjects :
- Archaea
Biology
Proteins chemistry
Bacteria
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1470-8752
- Volume :
- 52
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Biochemical Society transactions
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 38329160
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20230396