Evidence of direct cell-cell fusion in Borrelia by cryogenic electron tomography

Kudryashev, Mikhail; Cyrklaff, Marek; Alex, Björn; Lemgruber, Leandro; Baumeister, Wolfgang; Wallich, Reinhard; Frischknecht, Friedrich

doi:10.1111/j.1462-5822.2011.01571.x

Cited by 18 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(56 reference statements)

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“…Similarly, ECT of B. burgdorferi revealed a labile outer membrane sheath 70 . Interestingly, ECT also observed cell fusion events in Borrelia spp., as well as two cells sharing a single outer membrane, suggesting that these bacteria use this as a strategy to diversify surface antigens to evade host immunity 135 .…”

Section: Pathogenicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

A new view into prokaryotic cell biology from electron cryotomography

Oikonomou

Jensen

2016

Nat Rev Microbiol

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Electron cryotomography (ECT) enables intact cells to be visualized in 3D in an essentially native state to ‘macromolecular’ (~4 nm) resolution, revealing the basic architectures of complete nanomachines and their arrangements in situ. Since its inception, ECT has advanced our understanding of many aspects of prokaryotic cell biology, from morphogenesis to subcellular compartmentalization and from metabolism to complex interspecies interactions. In this Review, we highlight how ECT has provided structural and mechanistic insights into the physiology of bacteria and archaea and discuss prospects for the future.

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Section: Pathogenicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

A new view into prokaryotic cell biology from electron cryotomography

Oikonomou

Jensen

2016

Nat Rev Microbiol

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“…Presumably transfer consists of the outer leaflet lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the inner leaflet phospholipids. In this respect it is interesting to note that species of Borrelia have been directly observed to fuse their OMs, a process apparently mediated by cell motility [38], and Bacillus subtilis reportedly transfers proteins in biofilms via membrane enclosed nanotubes [39].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cell Contact–Dependent Outer Membrane Exchange in Myxobacteria: Genetic Determinants and Mechanism

et al. 2012

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Biofilms are dense microbial communities. Although widely distributed and medically important, how biofilm cells interact with one another is poorly understood. Recently, we described a novel process whereby myxobacterial biofilm cells exchange their outer membrane (OM) lipoproteins. For the first time we report here the identification of two host proteins, TraAB, required for transfer. These proteins are predicted to localize in the cell envelope; and TraA encodes a distant PA14 lectin-like domain, a cysteine-rich tandem repeat region, and a putative C-terminal protein sorting tag named MYXO-CTERM, while TraB encodes an OmpA-like domain. Importantly, TraAB are required in donors and recipients, suggesting bidirectional transfer. By use of a lipophilic fluorescent dye, we also discovered that OM lipids are exchanged. Similar to lipoproteins, dye transfer requires TraAB function, gliding motility and a structured biofilm. Importantly, OM exchange was found to regulate swarming and development behaviors, suggesting a new role in cell–cell communication. A working model proposes TraA is a cell surface receptor that mediates cell–cell adhesion for OM fusion, in which lipoproteins/lipids are transferred by lateral diffusion. We further hypothesize that cell contact–dependent exchange helps myxobacteria to coordinate their social behaviors.

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“…Wei et al (2014) suggested that traA functions as a fusogen to catalyse OM fusion between cells (Pathak and Wei 2012;Wall 2014a Kulp and Kuehn 2010). Based on a bioinformatic analysis, TraAB orthologs are restricted to myxobacteria, although other bacterial groups may have functional analogs and may carry out similar behavior (Kudryashev et al 2011). Using live imaging, Ducret et al (2013) showed that transient contacts between two cells are sufficient to transfer OM materials, proteins and lipids, at high efficiency.…”

Section: Social Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Current trends in myxobacteria research

et al. 2015

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Myxobacteria are fascinating Gram-negative bacteria whose life cycle includes the formation of multicellular fruiting bodies that contain about 100,000 cells differentiated as asexual spores for their long-term survival. They move by gliding on surfaces, an activity that helps them carry out their primitive kind of multicellular development. Myxobacteria have multiple traits that are clearly social in nature; they move and feed socially. These processes require specific intercellular signals, thereby exhibiting a sophisticated level of the interorganismal communication. Myxobacteria are predators. Predation is social not only with respect to searching for prey (motility) but also in the killing of prey. Swarming groups of cells secrete antibiotics and bacteriolytic compounds that kill and lyse their prey, and food is thereby released. Since the last three decades, myxobacteria are known as valuable producers of secondary metabolites exhibiting various biological activities. Myxobacterial metabolites exhibit many unique structural features as well as rare or novel modes of action, making them attractive lead structures for drug development. Both genome sequencing and metabolic profiling of myxobacterial strains suggest that the diversity of myxobacterial secondary metabolism is far greater than previously appreciated. The present review discusses the structure, cytology, physiology, and ecology of myxobacteria, as well as their secondary metabolite production and social interactions.

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Evidence of direct cell-cell fusion in Borrelia by cryogenic electron tomography

Cited by 18 publications

References 38 publications

A new view into prokaryotic cell biology from electron cryotomography

A new view into prokaryotic cell biology from electron cryotomography

Cell Contact–Dependent Outer Membrane Exchange in Myxobacteria: Genetic Determinants and Mechanism

Current trends in myxobacteria research

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