Envelope structure of Synechococcus sp. WH8113, a nonflagellated swimming cyanobacterium

BMC Microbiology
A D SamuelT S Reese

Abstract

Many bacteria swim by rotating helical flagellar filaments. Waterbury et al. discovered an exception, strains of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus that swim without flagella or visible changes in shape. Other species of cyanobacteria glide on surfaces. The hypothesis that Synechococcus might swim using traveling surface waves prompted this investigation. Using quick-freeze electron microscopy, we have identified a crystalline surface layer that encloses the outer membrane of the motile strain Synechococcus sp. WH8113, the components of which are arranged in a rhomboid lattice. Spicules emerge in profusion from the layer and extend up to 150 nm into the surrounding fluid. These spicules also send extensions inwards to the inner cell membrane where motility is powered by an ion-motive force. The envelope structure of Synechococcus sp. WH8113 provides new constraints on its motile mechanism. The spicules are well positioned to transduce energy at the cell membrane into mechanical work at the cell surface. One model is that an unidentified motor embedded in the cell membrane utilizes the spicules as oars to generate a traveling wave external to the surface layer in the manner of ciliated eukaryotes.

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Citations

May 9, 2012·PloS One·Kurt Ehlers, George Oster
Feb 10, 2016·ELife·Nils SchuergersAnnegret Wilde
May 8, 2008·Nature Reviews. Microbiology·Ken F Jarrell, Mark J McBride
Dec 7, 2013·Journal of Virology·Desislava A RaytchevaJonathan A King
Mar 10, 2015·Life·Nils Schuergers, Annegret Wilde
Jul 31, 2004·Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and Medicine : an Official Publication of the American Association of Oral Biologists·Renate Lux, Wenyuan Shi
Oct 9, 2002·Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics·F Alejandro Bonilla, John H Cushman
Aug 11, 2010·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Davide Giacché, Takuji Ishikawa
Nov 23, 2006·Journal of Bacteriology·Miguel Vicente, Marta García-Ovalle
Jul 30, 2003·Biophysical Journal·Charles W WolgemuthGeorge Oster

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