Phototactic and Chemotactic Signal Transduction by Transmembrane Receptors and Transducers in Microorganisms

作者：Suzuki Daisuke; Irieda Hiroki; Homma Michio; Kawagishi Ikuro; Sudo Yuki^*

来源：Sensors (Switzerland), 2010, 10(4): 4010-4039.

DOI：10.3390/s100404010

• phototaxis
• chemotaxis
• transducer
• signal transduction
• rhodopsin

Microorganisms show attractant and repellent responses to survive in the various environments in which they live. Those phototaxic (to light) and chemotaxic (to chemicals) responses are regulated by membrane-embedded receptors and transducers. This article reviews the following: (1) the signal relay mechanisms by two photoreceptors, Sensory Rhodopsin I (SRI) and Sensory Rhodopsin II (SRII) and their transducers (HtrI and HtrII) responsible for phototaxis in microorganisms; and (2) the signal relay mechanism of a chemoreceptor/transducer protein, Tar, responsible for chemotaxis in E. coli. Based on results mainly obtained by our group together with other findings, the possible molecular mechanisms for phototaxis and chemotaxis are discussed.

• 出版日期2010-4