Research progress on the folding and membrane-insertion mechanisms of β-barrel outer membrane protein of gramnegative bacteria-A review

Abstract:

Abstract:β-Barrel outer membrane proteins are the major components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria，which are in contact with the extracellular environment directly．β-barrel outer membrane proteins play key roles in nutrients absorption and keeping membrane integrity．They are also involved in the pathogenicity and multiple-antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria． Therefore，β-barrel outer membrane proteins are very important for the survive of bacteria cells，and full understanding of the biosynthesis，folding and membrane insertion of these proteins is of great significance for fighting against pathogenic bacteria and utilization of beneficial bacteria． In this article，the research progress on the biosynthesis in cytoplasm，the translocation across the inner membrane，transportation to periplasm and the folding and membrane insertion of β-barrel outer membrane proteins are reviewed，and the progress on the study of OMPs assembly machinery is emphasized．