[Bacterial and archaeal S-layers as object of bionanotechnology]

Many species of Bacteria and Archaea posses a regularly structured surface layers (S-layers) as outermost cell envelope component. S-layers composed of a single protein or glycoprotein species. The individual subunits of S-layers interact with each other and with the supporting bacterial envelope component through non-covalent forces. Pores in the crystalline protein network are with mean diameter of 2-6 nm, the thickness of S-layer is 5-10 nm. The isolated S-layer subunits reassemble into two-dimensional crystalline arrays in solution, on solid supports, on planar lipid films. These unique features of S-layers have led to a broad spectrum applications. This review focuses on the structural properties S-layers and S-proteins and their applications with accent to using this structures in nanobiotechnology.