Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Monitoring the Assembly of a Secreted Bacterial Virulence Factor Using Site-specific Crosslinking
Published on: December 17, 2013
Super-channel in bacteria: structural and functional aspects of a novel biosystem for the import and depolymerization
Wataru Hashimoto1, Masayuki Yamasaki, Takafumi Itoh
1Laboratory of Basic and Applied Molecular Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan.
Abstract:
Cells of Sphingomonas sp. A1 directly incorporate a macromolecule, alginate, into the cytoplasm through a biosystem, super-channel, consisting of a pit on the cell surface, alginate-binding proteins in the periplasm, and an ATP-binding cassette transporter in the inner membrane. The alginate is finally depolymerized into constituent monosaccharides by polysaccharide lyases present in the cytoplasm. The fundamental frame of the biosystem for alginate transport, and the functions of the pit, binding proteins, and ABC transporter have already been reviewed together with those of alginate-depolymerization processes [Hashimoto et al., J. Biosci. Bioeng., 87, 123-136 (1999)]. In this review, we have attempted to demonstrate the three-dimensional structure and evolution features of the super-channel, and alginate-depolymerization processes by using information obtained mainly through genomics, proteomics, and X-ray crystallography.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Bacterial Translocation and Protein Secretion
Gram-negative Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems
Biosynthesis in Bacteria
Cotranslational Protein Translocation
Sec61 channel partners for cotranslational translocation
During cotranslational translocation, the Sec61 channel partners with the signal recognition particle (SRP), the signal recognition particle receptor (SR), and the ribosomes to transport the nascent polypeptide chain...
Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria
ABC Transporters: Importer
In bacteria, based on the number of transmembrane helices and the chemical nature of their substrates, the ABC importers can be divided into three types:

