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Abstract:
The outermost surface of many archaea and bacteria is coated with a Surface-layer (S-layer), a proteinaceous layer formed by the self-assembly of monomeric proteins. S-layers play critical roles in cellular functions such as cell shape maintenance, cellular defense, biomineralization, cell adhesion, and molecular recognition. However, information regarding their structural and cellular biology has been limited until recently. In my talk, I will discuss recent advances in understanding S-layers, focusing on the S-layers of the archaeon Haloferax volcannii and the bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans. I will also talk about shared organizational principles and the evolution of S-layer proteins across bacteria and archaea, highlighting their importance for understanding the evolution of molecular recognition systems in eukaryotes.
