Related Experiment Videos
Inventory, assembly and analysis of Bacillus subtilis ABC transport systems
Y Quentin1, G Fichant, F Denizot
1Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, Institut de Biologie Structurale et Microbiologie CNRS, 31, Chemin Joseph Aiguier, Marseille Cedex 20, 13402, France. quentin@ir21cb.cnrs-mrs.fr
Journal of Molecular Biology
|March 27, 1999
Summary
Bacillus subtilis possesses at least 78 ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter systems, with a notable over-representation of extruders involved in antibiotic and drug resistance. This study inventories and categorizes these essential bacterial transport systems.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters are crucial for cellular transport processes.
- Understanding the full complement of ABC transporters in bacteria like Bacillus subtilis is vital for deciphering their physiology and potential applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively identify and characterize all ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter systems encoded in the Bacillus subtilis genome.
- To classify these systems based on their protein components and genetic organization.
Main Methods:
- Combined identification of nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs), membrane-spanning domains (MSDs), and solute-binding proteins (SBPs) with genetic organization analysis.
- Reconstruction of ABC transporters by analyzing transcriptional units.
- Classification of ABC systems into sub-families using NBD phylogeny and MSD/SBP clustering.
Main Results:
- Identified 86 NBDs, 103 MSDs, and 37 SBPs, reconstructing 59 complete ABC transporters.
- Estimated at least 78 ABC transporters in B. subtilis, divided into 38 importers and 40 extruders.
- Observed an over-representation of extruders in B. subtilis compared to Escherichia coli, particularly in antibiotic and drug resistance systems.
Conclusions:
- The Bacillus subtilis genome encodes a substantial and diverse set of ABC transporters, with a significant expansion in systems related to resistance.
- This inventory provides a foundation for further functional studies and potential exploitation of these transport systems.