Centre for Integrative Biology, Microbial Genomics, Via delle Regole 101, 38123 Mattarello, Italy
Behnam Zolghadr
Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, The Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Kerklaan 30, 9751 NN Haren, The Netherlands
Arnold M. J. Driessen
Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, The Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Kerklaan 30, 9751 NN Haren, The Netherlands
Sonja-Verena Albers
Molecular Biology of Archaea, Max Planck Institute for terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
Although archaea have a similar cellular organization as other prokaryotes, the lipid composition of their membranes and their cell surface is unique. Here we discuss recent developments in our understanding of the archaeal protein secretion mechanisms, the assembly of macromolecular cell surface structures, and the release of S-layer-coated vesicles from the archaeal membrane.
