Molecular Architecture of the "Stressosome," a Signal Integration and Transduction Hub

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1159572
• Publication Date: 2008-10-02T21:14:26Z
• Authors: Jon Marles-Wright; Tim Grant; Olivier Delumeau; Gijs van Duinen; Susan J. Firbank; Peter J. Lewis; James W. Murray; Joseph A. Newman; Maureen B. Quin; Paul R. Race; Alexis Rohou; Willem Tichelaar; Marin van Heel; Richard J. Lewis
• Keywords: Transduction (biophysics); Cooperativity; SIGNAL (programming language)

A commonly used strategy by microorganisms to survive multiple stresses involves a signal transduction cascade that increases the expression of stress-responsive genes. Stress signals can be integrated multiprotein signaling hub responds various effect single outcome. We obtained medium-resolution cryo–electron microscopy reconstruction 1.8-megadalton “stressosome” from Bacillus subtilis . Fitting known crystal structures components into this gave pseudoatomic structure, which had virus capsid–like core with sensory extensions. suggest different extensions respond signals, whereas conserved domains in integrate varied signals. The architecture stressosome provides potential for cooperativity, suggesting response could tuned dependent on magnitude chemophysical insult.