Biotechnological Advances in Bacterial Microcompartment Technology
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Author Spotlight: Development and Characterization of 2D Intestinal Monolayer Models from Bovine Organoids for Pathogen Interaction Studies
Published on: June 14, 2024
Matthew J Lee1, David J Palmer1, Martin J Warren1
1Centre for Industrial Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK.
Abstract:
Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) represent proteinaceous macromolecular nanobioreactors that are found in a broad range of bacteria, and which are associated with either anabolic or catabolic processes. They consist of a semipermeable outer shell that packages a central metabolic enzyme or pathway, providing both enhanced flux and protection against toxic intermediates. Recombinant production of BMCs has led to their repurposing with the incorporation of altogether new pathways. Deconstructing BMCs into their component parts has shown that some individual shell proteins self-associate into filaments that can be further modified into a cytoplasmic scaffold, or cytoscaffold, to which enzymes/proteins can be targeted. BMCs therefore represent a modular system that is highly suited for engineering biological systems for useful purposes.
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