Abstract
The landmark discovery of moonlighting proteins embarks the significant progress in understanding the biological complexity and their closed-circuit analysis. The growing continuum in the variety of moonlighting functions paved the way for further elucidation of structural-functional aspects of protein evolution and design of proteins with novel functions. Currently, the moonlighting functions in various adhesive properties of surface layer proteins, an essential component of cell surface architecture of archaea and all phylogenetic groups of eubacteria become more prominently recognized. The remarkable credentials of surface layer proteins to self-assemble into supramolecular structures at nano-scale dimension have been exploited for the production of smart biomaterials in the form of biomimetics has been thrust area of research. The finely tuned topological features in terms of shape, size, geometry and surface chemistry of surface layer proteins are crucial for the production of biomimetics. The current developments of biomimetic lipid bilayers and composite membranes find applicability in understanding the functional dynamism of evolutionary relationship of bacterial cell envelopes and vaccine development, drug development and drug delivery. Though the development of biomimetics embraces fascination but faces with technological challenges. The plethora of literature has been available for the moonlighting aspects and nano-technological applications separately but none of the review describes towards the rhythmic transition from moonlighting functions of surface layer proteins of bacteria to biomimetics development and applications. Therefore, this review describes certain basic aspects of moonlighting functions and their mechanism of action, surface layer proteins and their moonlighting functions of commensal bacteria and their transition towards biomimetics. The recent developments of biomimetics based on surface layer proteins have been summarized and also posited different challenges and future prospects.
Highlights
The remarkable coordination of the cellular activities is manifested by the synergistic interaction between the macromolecules that makes the cells as highly organized network
The plethora of literature has been available for the moonlighting aspects and nano-technological applications separately but none of the review describes towards the rhythmic transition from moonlighting functions of surface layer proteins of bacteria to biomimetics development and applications
The comprehensive literature has been documented on the biochemical aspects, self-assembling properties and genetic framework of surface layer proteins but their technical utilization is under the stage of infancy till date [18]
Summary
The remarkable coordination of the cellular activities is manifested by the synergistic interaction between the macromolecules that makes the cells as highly organized network. The simplicity of Beadle and Tatum hypothesis of one gene codes for one protein that attains single functionality [1] has been overruled by envisaging two or more different functions encoded by single polypeptide chain. This remarkable phenomenon of adding cellular complexity and providing beneficial effects to the cell has been termed as “Moonlighting” described by Wistow and Piatigorsky in the era of 1980s [2]. The present review focused on the current understanding of moonlighting functions of surface layer proteins in different non-pathogenic bacteria and their technological functions in development of biomimetics. The review posits the current bottlenecks and future directions for this research
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