Using comparative genomics to uncover new kinds of protein-based metabolic organelles in bacteria.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial microcompartment (MCP) organelles are cytosolic, polyhedral structures consisting of a thin protein shell and a series of encapsulated, sequentially acting enzymes. To date, different microcompartments carrying out three distinct types of metabolic processes have been characterized experimentally in various bacteria. In the present work, we use comparative genomics to explore the existence of yet uncharacterized microcompartments encapsulating a broader set of metabolic pathways. A clustering approach was used to group together enzymes that show a strong tendency to be encoded in chromosomal proximity to each other while also being near genes for microcompartment shell proteins. The results uncover new types of putative microcompartments, including one that appears to encapsulate

SUBMITTER: Jorda J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3588914 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature