Principles of general and regulatory proteolysis by AAA plus proteases in Escherichia coli

General and regulated proteolysis in bacteria is crucial for cellular homeostasis and relies on high substrate specificity of the executing AAA+ proteases. Here we summarize the various strategies that tightly control substrate degradation from both sides: the generation of accessible degrons and their specific recognition by AAA+ proteases and cognate adaptor proteins. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.