Structural studies on bacterial system used in the recognition and uptake of the macromolecule alginate |
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Authors: | Yukie Maruyama Wataru Hashimoto Kousaku Murata |
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Institution: | 1. Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto, Japan;2. Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Setsunan University, Neyagawa, Osaka, Japan |
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Abstract: | Alginate is an acidic heteropolysaccharide produced by brown seaweed and certain kinds of bacteria. The cells of Sphingomonas sp. strain A1, a gram-negative bacterium, have several alginate-degrading enzymes in their cytoplasm and efficiently utilize this polymer for their growth. Sphingomonas sp. strain A1 cells can directly incorporate alginate into their cytoplasm through a transport system consisting of a “pit” on their cell surface, substrate-binding proteins in their periplasm, and an ATP-binding cassette transporter in their inner membrane. This review deals with the structural and functional aspects of bacterial systems necessary for the recognition and uptake of alginate. |
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Keywords: | Sphingomonad alginate X-ray crystallography ABC transporter flagella |
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