The evolution of bacterial mechanosensitive channels.
Ian R Booth1, Samantha Miller2, Axel Müller3
1School of Medical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK; Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Cell Calcium
|January 17, 2015
Summary
The evolution of bacterial mechanosensitive channels (MSCs) like MscS and MscL is complex. MscS shows greater diversity through gene fusion, while MscL evolution appears constrained.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Mechanosensitive channels (MSCs) are crucial for cellular function.
- The evolutionary history of bacterial MSCs, particularly MscS and MscL, is not well understood.
- Mechanosensitivity may be an ancestral trait of membrane proteins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the evolutionary pathways of bacterial mechanosensitive channels.
- To investigate the diversification of MscS and the constraints on MscL evolution.
- To examine the distribution and functional roles of diverse MSCs.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on mechanosensitive channels.
- Analysis of genomic data to track channel distribution.
- Comparative analysis of MscS and MscL structures and evolutionary patterns.
Main Results:
- MscL evolution appears highly constrained, while MscS has diversified through gene fusion/fission.
- Unique MSC variants are found across various bacterial species and even in higher organisms.
- Genomic analysis provides insights into the distribution of different MSC types.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial MSC evolution is characterized by MscS elaboration and MscL constraint.
- Diverse MSCs have evolved, with some specific to certain taxa or found in eukaryotes.
- Further investigation into these channels, including their role in calcium signaling, is warranted.
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