Norris Vic, den Blaauwen Tanneke, Doi Roy H, Harshey Rasika M, Janniere Laurent, Jiménez-Sánchez Alfonso, Jin Ding Jun, Levin Petra Anne, Mileykovskaya Eugenia, Minsky Abraham, Misevic Gradimir, Ripoll Camille, Saier Milton, Skarstad Kirsten, Thellier Michel
Department of Science, University of Rouen, 76821 Mont Saint Aignan Cedex, France.
Annu Rev Microbiol. 2007;61:309-29. doi: 10.1146/annurev.micro.61.081606.103348.
Bacterial cells contain many large, spatially extended assemblies of ions, molecules, and macromolecules, called hyperstructures, that are implicated in functions that range from DNA replication and cell division to chemotaxis and secretion. Interactions between these hyperstructures would create a level of organization intermediate between macromolecules and the cell itself. To explore this level, a taxonomy is needed. Here, we describe classification criteria based on the form of the hyperstructure and on the processes responsible for this form. These processes include those dependent on coupled transcription-translation, protein-protein affinities, chromosome site-binding by protein, and membrane structures. Various combinations of processes determine the formation, maturation, and demise of many hyperstructures that therefore follow a trajectory within the space of classification by form/process. Hence a taxonomy by trajectory may be desirable. Finally, we suggest that working toward a taxonomy based on speculative interactions between hyperstructures promises most insight into life at this level.
细菌细胞包含许多由离子、分子和大分子组成的大型、空间扩展的集合体，称为超结构，这些超结构涉及从DNA复制、细胞分裂到趋化性和分泌等多种功能。这些超结构之间的相互作用会在大分子和细胞本身之间创造出一个中间组织层次。为了探索这个层次，需要一种分类法。在这里，我们描述了基于超结构形式以及形成这种形式的过程的分类标准。这些过程包括那些依赖于转录-翻译偶联、蛋白质-蛋白质亲和力、蛋白质与染色体位点结合以及膜结构的过程。各种过程组合决定了许多超结构的形成、成熟和消亡，因此这些超结构在形式/过程分类空间中遵循一条轨迹。因此，基于轨迹的分类法可能是可取的。最后，我们认为，致力于基于超结构之间推测性相互作用的分类法有望在这个层次上对生命有最深入的了解。
