The MscS and MscL families of mechanosensitive channels act as microbial emergency release valves.

ABSTRACT: Single-celled organisms must survive exposure to environmental extremes. Perhaps one of the most variable and potentially life-threatening changes that can occur is that of a rapid and acute decrease in external osmolarity. This easily translates into several atmospheres of additional pressure that can build up within the cell. Without a protective mechanism against such pressures, the cell will lyse. Hence, most microbes appear to possess members of one or both families of bacterial mechanosensitive channels, MscS and MscL, which can act as biological emergency release valves that allow cytoplasmic solutes to be jettisoned rapidly from the cell. While this is undoubtedly a function of these proteins, the discovery of the presence of MscS homologues in plant organelles and MscL in fungus a

SUBMITTER: Booth IR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3430326 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature