User:Caleb Holaway/Sandbox 1: Difference between revisions

Periplasmic binding proteins (PBPs) are non-enzymatic receptors that bacteria use to sense small molecules such as carbohydrates, amino acids, and ions, and transport them into the cytoplasm.  These sorts of proteins are ubiquitous in both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, appearing in gram-positive bacteria as membrane-anchored lipoproteins.  The glucose/galactose binding protein (<scene name='84/842887/Gbbp/3'>GBBP</scene>) of E. Coli is amongst the best studied of these proteins.    These proteins typically exhibit a “Venus fly-trap” appearance, consisting of two globular domains connected by a small hinge region.  The hinge-like appearance is evident in GBBP.  These proteins often also work in conjunction with an ABC-binding cassette transporter which catalyzes the movement of the substance at hand across the cytoplasmic membrane.