BCSD

bcsD is a gene encoding BcsD, a periplasmic component of the bacterial cellulose synthase (bcs) operon found in many Gram-negative bacteria that produce cellulose. The operon typically includes bcsA, bcsB, bcsC, and bcsD, sometimes with additional regulatory or modifying genes.

Role: BcsD is not catalytic. It is a periplasmic protein believed to participate in processing and/or export of the nascent cellulose chain, potentially by binding glucan, guiding its transit through BcsC, and affecting chain length and crystallinity.

Structure and interactions: BcsD is typically a soluble periplasmic protein and can form dimers or higher-order assemblies. It interacts with other components of the Bcs complex, particularly BcsA/B and BcsC, and in some species structural data have been reported.

Genomic context and significance: The bcsD gene is widely distributed among cellulose-producing bacteria such as Komagataeibacter and other members of the Proteobacteria. Its expression is generally co-regulated with the rest of the bcs operon. Disruption of bcsD often reduces cellulose yield or alters its microfibril properties.

See also: Bacterial cellulose, BcsA, BcsB, BcsC.