General bacterial porin family
Encyclopedia
General bacterial porins are a family of proteins
from the outer membrane of Gram-negative
bacteria
. The porins act as molecular filters for hydrophilic compounds. They are responsible for the 'molecular sieve' properties of the outer membrane. Porins form large water-filled channels which allow the diffusion of hydrophilic molecules into the periplasmic space
. Some porins form general diffusion channels
that allow any solutes up to a certain size (that size is known as the exclusion limit) to cross the membrane, while other porins are specific for one particular solute and contain a binding site for that solute inside the pores (these are known as selective porins). As porins are the major outer membrane proteins, they also serve as receptor sites for the binding of phages and bacteriocins.
General diffusion porins usually assemble as a trimer
in the membrane and the transmembrane core of these proteins is composed exclusively of beta strands
. It has been shown that a number of general porins are evolutionarily related, and these porins are:
Protein family
A protein family is a group of evolutionarily-related proteins, and is often nearly synonymous with gene family. The term protein family should not be confused with family as it is used in taxonomy....
from the outer membrane of Gram-negative
Gram-negative
Gram-negative bacteria are bacteria that do not retain crystal violet dye in the Gram staining protocol. In a Gram stain test, a counterstain is added after the crystal violet, coloring all Gram-negative bacteria with a red or pink color...
bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
. The porins act as molecular filters for hydrophilic compounds. They are responsible for the 'molecular sieve' properties of the outer membrane. Porins form large water-filled channels which allow the diffusion of hydrophilic molecules into the periplasmic space
Periplasmic space
The periplasmic space or periplasm is a space between the peptidoglycan cell wall and inner membrane of Gram-negative bacteria or the equivalent space outside the inner membrane of Gram-positive bacteria. It may constitute up to 40% of the total cell volume in Gram-negative species, and is...
. Some porins form general diffusion channels
Passive transport
Passive transport means moving biochemicals and other atomic or molecular substances across membranes. Unlike active transport, this process does not involve chemical energy, because, unlike in an active transport, the transport across membrane is always coupled with the growth of entropy of the...
that allow any solutes up to a certain size (that size is known as the exclusion limit) to cross the membrane, while other porins are specific for one particular solute and contain a binding site for that solute inside the pores (these are known as selective porins). As porins are the major outer membrane proteins, they also serve as receptor sites for the binding of phages and bacteriocins.
General diffusion porins usually assemble as a trimer
Trimer (biochemistry)
In biochemistry, a trimer is a macromolecular complex formed by three, usually non-covalently bound, macromolecules like proteins or nucleic acids. A homo-trimer would be formed by three identical molecules. A hetero-trimer would be formed by three different macromolecules. Collagen is an example...
in the membrane and the transmembrane core of these proteins is composed exclusively of beta strands
Secondary structure
In biochemistry and structural biology, secondary structure is the general three-dimensional form of local segments of biopolymers such as proteins and nucleic acids...
. It has been shown that a number of general porins are evolutionarily related, and these porins are:
- Enterobacteria PhoE, OmpC, OmpF, NmpC.
- Bacteriophage PA-2 LC.
- Neisseria PI.A, PI.B