Which of the following is NOT a function of the S-layer in Archaea?
Archaeal S-layers are paracrystalline two-dimensional lattices of protein or glycoprotein that self-assemble to cover entire cell surface, often representing sole wall component outside cytoplasmic membrane in many species. These lattices provide robust protection against osmotic stress, mechanical disruption, predation by viruses, and low pH by acting as molecular sieve with defined pores around 2 to 8 nanometers that control passage of macromolecules, contributing to selective permeability. S-layer subunits also help determine and maintain cell shape, as seen in Halobacterium that loses rod
Ref: Albers & Meyer, Nature Rev Microbiol 2011, S-layers in Archaea; Ng et al., Front Microbiol 2013, Archaeal Cell Envelopes.
