Direct interaction between marine cyanobacteria mediated by nanotubes

Abstract

Microbial associations and interactions drive and regulate nutrient fluxes in the ocean. However, physical contact between cells of marine cyanobacteria has not been studied thus far. Here, we show a mechanism of direct interaction between the marine cyanobacteria Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus , the intercellular membrane nanotubes. We present evidence of inter- and intra-genus exchange of cytoplasmic material between neighboring and distant cells of cyanobacteria mediated by nanotubes. We visualized and measured these structures in xenic and axenic cultures and in natural samples. We show that nanotubes are produced between living cells, suggesting that this is a relevant system of exchange material in vivo. The discovery of nanotubes acting as exchange bridges in the most abundant photosynthetic organisms in the ocean may have important implications for their interactions with other organisms and their population dynamics.

From Genes to Nanotubes: Exploring the UV-Resistome in the Andean ExtremophileExiguobacteriumSp. S17

“…and Prochlorococcus sp., respectively. These microorganisms promoted the development of direct cellular connections through tubules of variable diameters due to the extensive oligotrophic zones they inhabit, which facilitates the efficient management of nutrients within their communities [53, 54]. In this context, it is worth mentioning that while nanotube development has been reported in several bacterial species, this study represents the first report documenting observations of intercellular nanotubes in the extremophilic strain Exiguobacterium using high-resolution TEM and SEM microscopy.…”