Title |
Determining the bacterial cell biology of Planctomycetes
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Published in |
Nature Communications, April 2017
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DOI | 10.1038/ncomms14853 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Christian Boedeker, Margarete Schüler, Greta Reintjes, Olga Jeske, Muriel C. F. van Teeseling, Mareike Jogler, Patrick Rast, Daniela Borchert, Damien P. Devos, Martin Kucklick, Miroslava Schaffer, Roberto Kolter, Laura van Niftrik, Susanne Engelmann, Rudolf Amann, Manfred Rohde, Harald Engelhardt, Christian Jogler |
Abstract |
Bacteria of the phylum Planctomycetes have been previously reported to possess several features that are typical of eukaryotes, such as cytosolic compartmentalization and endocytosis-like macromolecule uptake. However, recent evidence points towards a Gram-negative cell plan for Planctomycetes, although in-depth experimental analysis has been hampered by insufficient genetic tools. Here we develop methods for expression of fluorescent proteins and for gene deletion in a model planctomycete, Planctopirus limnophila, to analyse its cell organization in detail. Super-resolution light microscopy of mutants, cryo-electron tomography, bioinformatic predictions and proteomic analyses support an altered Gram-negative cell plan for Planctomycetes, including a defined outer membrane, a periplasmic space that can be greatly enlarged and convoluted, and an energized cytoplasmic membrane. These conclusions are further supported by experiments performed with two other Planctomycetes, Gemmata obscuriglobus and Rhodopirellula baltica. We also provide experimental evidence that is inconsistent with endocytosis-like macromolecule uptake; instead, extracellular macromolecules can be taken up and accumulate in the periplasmic space through unclear mechanisms. |
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Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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United States | 8 | 15% |
Germany | 6 | 11% |
United Kingdom | 4 | 7% |
Spain | 3 | 6% |
Netherlands | 2 | 4% |
Mexico | 2 | 4% |
China | 2 | 4% |
Saudi Arabia | 1 | 2% |
Denmark | 1 | 2% |
Other | 8 | 15% |
Unknown | 17 | 31% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 28 | 52% |
Scientists | 25 | 46% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 2% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Japan | 1 | <1% |
United States | 1 | <1% |
Germany | 1 | <1% |
Switzerland | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 190 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 35 | 18% |
Researcher | 33 | 17% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 32 | 16% |
Student > Bachelor | 27 | 14% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 7 | 4% |
Other | 22 | 11% |
Unknown | 38 | 20% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 47 | 24% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 39 | 20% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 18 | 9% |
Chemistry | 9 | 5% |
Engineering | 6 | 3% |
Other | 22 | 11% |
Unknown | 53 | 27% |