Part:BBa_K5121011

Reb1 Locus

Biology

Refractile bodies, known as R bodies, are ribbon-like protein complexes produced by certain strains of bacteria. Five classes of R bodies have been described — this part specifically encodes a modified type 51 R body containing four genes; rebA, rebB, rebC, and rebD. rebA and rebB constitute the primary structural components of R bodies, while rebC is thought to aid in the polymerisation process — the function of rebD remains unknown (Heruth et al., 1994). Under basic conditions, R bodies exist in a coiled-up conformation but will extend in a telescopic fashion under acidic conditions (Heruth et al., 1994). In nature, R bodies are produced by bacterial endosymbionts of some Paramecia. Also referred to as kappa particles, these bacteria constitute the genus Caedibacter (Beier et al., 2002). These bacterial endosymbionts confer a killer trait to host paramecia — when released and taken up by sensitive paramecia, the bacteria are exposed to an acidifying environment in the endosome. These conditions cause the extension of R bodies inside the bacteria, rupturing them and the endosome to release a toxin to kill the host cell (Pond et al., 1989). Their ability to burst endosomes make R bodies appealing candidates for use in drug delivery, as they could hold the key to solving the endosomal escape problem.

Sequence and Features

Assembly Compatibility:

• 10
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
• 12
  INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]

  Illegal NheI site found at 1481
  Illegal NheI site found at 1543
  
• 21
  INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]

  Illegal BamHI site found at 1423
  Illegal XhoI site found at 1721
  
• 23
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
• 25
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]
• 1000
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]

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