Biochemists reveal details of mysterious bacterial microcompartments

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UCLA chemists are studying the structure of a protein shell called the carboxysome. The pentagons (shown in red) sit at the corners of the shell and are critical for causing an otherwise flat layer of hexagons to close. Credit: Todd O. YeatesUCLA C ...
UCLA chemists are studying the structure of a protein shell called the carboxysome. The pentagons (shown in red) sit at the corners of the shell and are critical for causing an otherwise flat layer of hexagons to close. Credit: Todd O. Yeates/UCLA Chemistry and Biochemistry

UCLA biochemists and colleagues have answered an important question about the structure of microcompartments — the mysterious molecular machines that seem to be present in a wide variety of pathogens and other bacteria.


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