Protein Translocation in Archaea

While the process of protein translocation has been extensively addressed in Bacteria and Eukarya, little is known of how proteins cross the membranes of Archaea, the third domain of Life. Analysis thus far suggests the hybrid-like nature of the archaeal protein translocation system, combining selected aspects of the bacterial and eukaryal processes together with Archaea-specific features. The archaeal translocation apparatus simultaneously incorporates homologues of system components found either in Bacteria or Eukarya but not in both, yet seemingly does not include other important elements of these two systems. Moreover, certain facets of the archaeal protein translocation process appear specific to this domain, possibly reflecting adaptations to the extreme environments in which Archaea exist.