Two-dimensional protein crystals (S-layers): Fundamentals and applications

✍ Scribed by Prof. Uwe B. Sleytr; Margit Sára; Paul Messner; Dietmar Pum

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 740 KB
• Volume: 56
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0730-2312
• DOI: 10.1002/jcb.240560209

✦ Synopsis

Two-dimensional crystalline surface layers (Slayers) composed of protein or glycoprotein subunits are one of the most commonly observed prokaryotic cell envelope structures. Isolated S-layer subunits are endowed with the ability to assemble into monomolecular arrays in suspension, on surfaces or interfaces by an entropy-driven process. S-layer lattices are isoporous structures with functional groups located on the surface in an identical position and orientation. These characteristic features have already led to applications of Slayers as (1 ) ultrafiltration membranes with well-defined molecular weight cut-offs and excellent antifouling characteristics, (2) immobilization matrices for functional molecules as required for affinity and enzyme membranes, affinity microcarriers and biosensors, (3) conjugate vaccines, (4) carriers for Langmuir-Blodgett films and reconstituted biological membranes, and (5) patterning elements in molecular nanotechnology.