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			== Bacterial_microcompartment ==
			<gallery>
			File:Carboxysome_and_bacterial_microcompartments.jpg\|Carboxysome and bacterial microcompartments
			File:Generalized_function_schematic_for_experimentally_characterized_BMCs.jpeg\|Generalized function schematic for experimentally characterized BMCs
			File:Carboxysomes_EM.jpg\|Carboxysomes EM
			File:Synechococcus_elongatus_PCC_7942_electron_micrograph_showing_carboxysomes.jpeg\|Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 electron micrograph showing carboxysomes
			File:PDU_BMC_genes_expressed_in_Escherichia_coli.jpeg\|PDU BMC genes expressed in Escherichia coli
			</gallery>

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'''Bacterial microcompartments''' (BMCs) are [[protein]]-based [[organelle]]s found in a wide range of [[bacteria]]. They serve as specialized compartments for various metabolic processes, encapsulating specific enzymes and substrates to enhance reaction efficiency and protect the cell from toxic intermediates. BMCs are notable for their icosahedral or quasi-icosahedral symmetry and are composed of thousands of protein subunits. They are a key example of the complexity and adaptability of bacterial cells, illustrating how prokaryotes can compartmentalize functions in a manner somewhat analogous to the [[organelle]]s of eukaryotic cells.

==Structure and Function==
The structure of BMCs is defined by a protein shell that encapsulates enzymes involved in a specific metabolic pathway. The shell is primarily made up of hexameric and pentameric proteins that form a facetted surface, with pores that allow the selective passage of substrates, products, and cofactors. The most well-studied BMCs are those involved in [[carbon fixation]], the [[anabolism]] of ethanolamine, and the degradation of [[propanediol]].

===Carbon Fixation BMCs===
In [[cyanobacteria]] and some [[chemolithoautotrophs]], BMCs encapsulate enzymes of the Calvin cycle, enhancing the efficiency of carbon fixation by concentrating [[CO2]] and excluding oxygen, which can interfere with the enzyme [[RuBisCO]].

===Ethanolamine Utilization===
Certain [[pathogenic bacteria]], such as ''[[Salmonella]]'' and ''[[Escherichia coli]]'', contain BMCs that metabolize ethanolamine, using it as a nitrogen and carbon source. This process is crucial for their survival in the gut, where ethanolamine is available from the breakdown of [[phospholipid]]s.

===Propanediol Utilization===
BMCs involved in the degradation of 1,2-propanediol are found in several bacterial species. This pathway produces [[propionate]] and [[propanol]], which can be used as carbon and energy sources. The encapsulation of this pathway helps to sequester the toxic intermediate, [[propionaldehyde]].

==Biotechnological Applications==
The modular nature of BMCs and their ability to encapsulate specific metabolic pathways have made them a target for [[biotechnology]]. Efforts are underway to engineer BMCs to improve biofuel production, carbon capture, and the synthesis of valuable chemicals. By introducing synthetic BMCs into industrial microorganisms, researchers aim to create more efficient and robust production strains.

==Evolution==
The evolutionary origin of BMCs is a subject of ongoing research. It is believed that they evolved through the duplication and divergence of a primordial protein, leading to the diverse array of BMCs observed today. Their widespread presence in bacteria suggests an ancient origin and a significant evolutionary advantage in certain environments.

==See Also==
* [[Cell (biology)|Cell]]
* [[Organelle]]
* [[Protein]]
* [[Metabolism]]

[[Category:Bacterial anatomy]]
[[Category:Cell biology]]
[[Category:Microbiology]]
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Bacterial microcompartment - Revision history

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