Bacterial surface layer glycoproteins

Abstract

Crystalline cell surface layers (S-layers) are ubiquitously present in bacterial species from almost all phylogenetic branches. Recent investigations have shown that the S-layer proteins of many archaebacteria and eubacteria contain covalently linked carbohydrate chains. This evidence clearly shows that the ability for protein glycosylation is present as a common biosynthetic pathway in prokaryotic organisms.