Molecular architecture and function of the bacterial stressosome

Abstract

The bacterial stressosome is a supramolecular multiprotein complex that acts as a critical signal integration and transduction hub, orchestrating cellular responses to environmental stimuli. Recent studies have resolved near-atomic stressosome structures from various bacterial species, revealing assemblies that should be capable of altering their configuration in response to external changes. Further genetic, biochemical, and cell biology research has elucidated interactions and phosphorylation status within the stressosome complex as well as its subcellular localization and mobility within living cells. These insights enhance our comprehension of the stressosome pathways and their roles in directing various survival responses during environmental stress.