The protein compn. of the outer membrane of Gram-neg. bacteria consists of about 20 immunochem. distinct proteins, termed outer membrane proteins (OMPs). Apart from their structural role, OMPs have been shown to have other functions, particularly with regard to transport, and have been classified as permeases and porins. Porins, during their interaction with the host, are immunogenic and also directly stimulate several cellular functions. Porins work both as mols. present on the bacterial surface and as mols. released by bacteria. Lipopolysaccharide and OMPs, the major structural macromol. constituents of the outer membrane, carry out a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of Gram-neg. infections. This brief review describes the multiple facets of the biol. activities of porins both in vitro and in vivo, particularly focusing on their ability to induce the expression of cytokines and other factors that modulate cellular activities with either pathol. or adaptive consequences. This brief discussion will focus on the signal transmission mechanisms induced by bacterial porins.
Eukaryotic cell signaling and transcriptional activation induced by bacterial porins.
2003
Abstract
The protein compn. of the outer membrane of Gram-neg. bacteria consists of about 20 immunochem. distinct proteins, termed outer membrane proteins (OMPs). Apart from their structural role, OMPs have been shown to have other functions, particularly with regard to transport, and have been classified as permeases and porins. Porins, during their interaction with the host, are immunogenic and also directly stimulate several cellular functions. Porins work both as mols. present on the bacterial surface and as mols. released by bacteria. Lipopolysaccharide and OMPs, the major structural macromol. constituents of the outer membrane, carry out a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of Gram-neg. infections. This brief review describes the multiple facets of the biol. activities of porins both in vitro and in vivo, particularly focusing on their ability to induce the expression of cytokines and other factors that modulate cellular activities with either pathol. or adaptive consequences. This brief discussion will focus on the signal transmission mechanisms induced by bacterial porins.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
