BMC Caller

msu.edu www.kerfeldlab.org lbl.gov

BMC Caller[1] is a tool to analyze sequence data for the presence of Bacterial Microcompartments (BMCs). It also serves as a reference database for BMC types. BMCs are protein-based organelles found in many bacteria[2] that sequester anabolic (Carboxysome) or catabolic (Metabolosome) reactions. The genes encoding the proteins that form the BMCs as well as accessory factors such as regulators or transmembrane transporters for substrates generally cluster as BMC loci. The BMC membrane is composed of unique, conserved protein families. Shell protein oligomers (hexamers, trimers) are typically perforated by pores that selectively allow substrates and products to enter and exit the BMC. BMC Caller has two modes of protein sequence analysis, a locus analysis mode that determines the BMC type, and a shell protein analysis mode that focuses on the proteins forming the shell. The locus database serves as a reference for different BMC types.

BMC scheme


This server was established with support from the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory and funding from National Institutes of Health (5R01AI114975-07).


[1] BMC Caller: A webtool to identify and analyze Bacterial Microcompartment types in sequence data. Sutter, M, Kerfeld, CA; Biology Direct 17, 9 (2022)
[2] A catalog of the diversity and ubiquity of bacterial microcompartments. Sutter M, Melnicki MR, Schulz F, Woyke T & Kerfeld CA; Nature Communications 12, 3809 (2021)