Occurrence, structure, chemistry, genetics, morphogenesis, and functions of S-layers

Abstract

The different cell wall structures of prokaryotic organisms, in particular the outermost envelope layers facing the surrounding environment, reflect evolutionary adaptations of the organisms to a broad spectrum of selection criteria in a natural habitat. Among them are crystalline cell surface layers (S-layers) that have been identified as common features of organisms belonging to the prokaryotic domains Bacteria and Archaea. In this chapter, we deal predominantly with bacterial S-layers, since archaeal S-layers are covered separately in Chaps. 10-12. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.