Bacterial microcompartment facts for kids

A bacterial microcompartment is a structure inside bacteria. They are made of a protein shell which surrounds and encloses various enzymes. They are similar to eukaryotic cell organelles, but do not have plasma membranes. They do not contain lipids.

These compartments are typically about 100-200 nanometres across and made of interlocking proteins.

Protein-enclosed compartments are also found in eukaryotes, such as enzyme encapsulation.

Images for kids

Generalized function schematic for experimentally characterized BMCs. (A) Carboxysome. (B) Metabolosome. Reactions in gray are peripheral reactions to the core BMC chemistry. BMC shell protein oligomers are depicted on the left: blue, BMC-H; cyan, BMC-T; yellow, BMC-P. 3-PGA, 3-phosphoglycerate, and RuBP, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate.
Electron micrographs showing alpha-carboxysomes from the chemoautotrophic bacterium Halothiobacillus neapolitanus: (A) arranged within the cell, and (B) intact upon isolation. Scale bars indicate 100 nm.
Electron micrograph of Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 cell showing the carboxysomes as polyhedral dark structures. Scale bar indicates 500 nm.
Electron micrograph of Escherichia coli cell expressing the PDU BMC genes (left), and purified PDU BMCs from the same strain (right).