Atomic-Level Models of the Bacterial Carboxysome Shell

Authors

Shiho Tanaka, University of California, Los Angeles
Cheryl A. Kerfeld, University of California - Berkeley
Michael R. Sawaya, University of California, Los Angeles
Fei Cai, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Sabine Heinhorst, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Gordon C. Cannon, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Todd O. Yeates, University of California, Los Angeles

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-22-2008

Department

Chemistry and Biochemistry

School

Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Abstract

The carboxysome is a bacterial microcompartment that functions as a simple organelle by sequestering enzymes involved in carbon fixation. The carboxysome shell is roughly 800 to 1400 angstroms in diameter and is assembled from several thousand protein subunits. Previous studies have revealed the three- dimensional structures of hexameric carboxysome shell proteins, which self- assemble into molecular layers that most likely constitute the facets of the polyhedral shell. Here, we report the three- dimensional structures of two proteins of previously unknown function, CcmL and OrfA ( or CsoS4A), from the two known classes of carboxysomes, at resolutions of 2.4 and 2.15 angstroms. Both proteins assemble to form pentameric structures whose size and shape are compatible with formation of vertices in an icosahedral shell. Combining these pentamers with the hexamers previously elucidated gives two plausible, preliminary atomic models for the carboxysome shell.

Publication Title

Science

Volume

319

Issue

5866

First Page

1083

Last Page

1086

Recommended Citation

Tanaka, S., Kerfeld, C. A., Sawaya, M. R., Cai, F., Heinhorst, S., Cannon, G. C., Yeates, T. O. (2008). Atomic-Level Models of the Bacterial Carboxysome Shell. Science, 319(5866), 1083-1086.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/8950