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Crystallographic snapshot of cellulose synthesis and membrane translocation

Author

Listed:
  • Jacob L. W. Morgan

    (Center for Membrane Biology, University of Virginia)

  • Joanna Strumillo

    (Center for Membrane Biology, University of Virginia
    Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Pilarskiego Street 14/16, 90-231 Lodz, Poland)

  • Jochen Zimmer

    (Center for Membrane Biology, University of Virginia)

Abstract

Cellulose, the most abundant biological macromolecule, is an extracellular, linear polymer of glucose molecules. It represents an essential component of plant cell walls but is also found in algae and bacteria. In bacteria, cellulose production frequently correlates with the formation of biofilms, a sessile, multicellular growth form. Cellulose synthesis and transport across the inner bacterial membrane is mediated by a complex of the membrane-integrated catalytic BcsA subunit and the membrane-anchored, periplasmic BcsB protein. Here we present the crystal structure of a complex of BcsA and BcsB from Rhodobacter sphaeroides containing a translocating polysaccharide. The structure of the BcsA–BcsB translocation intermediate reveals the architecture of the cellulose synthase, demonstrates how BcsA forms a cellulose-conducting channel, and suggests a model for the coupling of cellulose synthesis and translocation in which the nascent polysaccharide is extended by one glucose molecule at a time.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacob L. W. Morgan & Joanna Strumillo & Jochen Zimmer, 2013. "Crystallographic snapshot of cellulose synthesis and membrane translocation," Nature, Nature, vol. 493(7431), pages 181-186, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:493:y:2013:i:7431:d:10.1038_nature11744
    DOI: 10.1038/nature11744
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jaroslaw Sedzicki & Dongchun Ni & Frank Lehmann & Henning Stahlberg & Christoph Dehio, 2024. "Structure-function analysis of the cyclic β-1,2-glucan synthase from Agrobacterium tumefaciens," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Dan-Dan Chen & Zhao-Bin Wang & Le-Xuan Wang & Peng Zhao & Cai-Hong Yun & Lin Bai, 2023. "Structure, catalysis, chitin transport, and selective inhibition of chitin synthase," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Itxaso Anso & Samira Zouhir & Thibault Géry Sana & Petya Violinova Krasteva, 2024. "Structural basis for synthase activation and cellulose modification in the E. coli Type II Bcs secretion system," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    4. Preeti Verma & Ruoya Ho & Schuyler A. Chambers & Lynette Cegelski & Jochen Zimmer, 2024. "Insights into phosphoethanolamine cellulose synthesis and secretion across the Gram-negative cell envelope," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Shu-Chieh Chang & Mu-Rong Kao & Rebecka Karmakar Saldivar & Sara M. Díaz-Moreno & Xiaohui Xing & Valentina Furlanetto & Johannes Yayo & Christina Divne & Francisco Vilaplana & D. Wade Abbott & Yves S., 2023. "The Gram-positive bacterium Romboutsia ilealis harbors a polysaccharide synthase that can produce (1,3;1,4)-β-d-glucans," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.

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