S-layer of Haloferax sp. GR 2 (JCM 13922): Isolation, Characterization and Binding to Silicon Nanostructurated Substrates
L. DUMITRU, G. TEODOSIU POPESCU, M. ENACHE, R. COJOC, I. KLEPS, T. IGNAT

Abstract.
Crystalline cell surface layers (S-layers) composed of planar assemblies of protein or glycoprotein subunits are one of the most commonly observed cell envelope structures of Bacteria and Archaea. Isolated S-layer subunits of microorganisms are able to assemble into monomolecular arrays either in suspension, at liquid-surface interfaces, including lipid films, on liposomes and on solid supports. These characteristic features of S-layers have led to various applications in biotechnology, vaccine development, diagnosis, biomimetics and molecular nanotechnology. Our investigations were done by an extremely halophilic archaeaon isolated from a hypersaline lake in Prahova County, Romania. The studies were focused on: isolation of S-layer, indirect reveal by biochemical characterization and examination in transmission electron microscope as direct method for visualize of protein lattice. Preliminary investigations related to the binding of S-layer to some silicon nanostructurated substrates were performed, also.