Phototrophic Consortia: A Tight Cooperation Between Non-Related Eubacteria

Overmann, Jörg

doi:10.1007/0-306-48173-1_15

Cited by 15 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Phototrophic consortia have been known for over 100 years (Lauterborn, ). To date, nine different morphotypes have been described (Overmann, ). However, ‘ C. aggregatum ’ is the only phototrophic consortium that can currently be cultivated in the laboratory (Mueller & Overmann, ).…”

Section: Non‐classical Types Of Syntrophymentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial syntrophy: interaction for the common good

Henneberger²,

et al. 2013

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Classical definitions of syntrophy focus on a process, performed through metabolic interaction between dependent microbial partners, such as the degradation of complex organic compounds under anoxic conditions. However, examples from past and current scientific discoveries suggest that a new, simple but wider definition is necessary to cover all aspects of microbial syntrophy. We suggest the term 'obligately mutualistic metabolism', which still focuses on microbial metabolic cooperation but also includes an ecological aspect: the benefit for both partners. By the combined metabolic activity of microorganisms, endergonic reactions can become exergonic through the efficient removal of products and therefore enable a microbial community to survive with minimal energy resources. Here, we explain the principles of classical and non-classical syntrophy and illustrate the concepts with various examples. We present biochemical fundamentals that allow microorganism to survive under a range of environmental conditions and to drive important biogeochemical processes. Novel technologies have contributed to the understanding of syntrophic relationships in cultured and uncultured systems. Recent research highlights that obligately mutualistic metabolism is not limited to certain metabolic pathways nor to certain environments or microorganisms. This beneficial microbial interaction is not restricted to the transfer of reducing agents such as hydrogen or formate, but can also involve the exchange of organic, sulfurous- and nitrogenous compounds or the removal of toxic compounds.

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Section: Non‐classical Types Of Syntrophymentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial syntrophy: interaction for the common good

Henneberger²,

et al. 2013

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“…Phototrophic consortia consist of a heterotrophic, motile, colorless, rod-shaped central bacterium which is surrounded by up to 69 photoautotrophic green sulfur bacterial cells, the epibionts (6,20,23). Phototrophic consortia occur in numerous stratified lakes worldwide (11,24), where they can amount to up to two-thirds of the total bacterial biomass in the chemocline (8).…”

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confidence: 99%

Ultrastructural Characterization of the Prokaryotic Symbiosis in “Chlorochromatium aggregatum”

2008

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The phototrophic consortium "Chlorochromatium aggregatum" currently represents the most highly developed interspecific association of bacteria and consists of green sulfur bacteria, so-called epibionts, surrounding a central, motile, chemotrophic bacterium. In order to identify subcellular structures characteristic of this symbiosis, consortia were studied by a combination of high-resolution analytical scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and three-dimensional reconstruction and image analyses. Epibionts are interconnected and to a lesser extent are also connected with the central bacterium, by electron-dense, hair-like filaments. In addition, numerous periplasmic tubules extend from the outer membrane of the central bacterium and are in direct contact with the outer membrane of the epibionts. In each epibiont cell, the attachment site to the central bacterium is characterized by the absence of chlorosomes and an additional 17-nm-thick layer (epibiont contact layer [ECL]) attached to the inner side of the cytoplasmic membrane. The ECL is only occasionally observed in pure cultures of the epibiont, where it occurs in about 10 to 20% of the free-living cells. A striking feature of the central bacterium is the presence of one or two hexagonally packed flat crystals (central bacterium crystal [CBC]) per cell. The CBC reaches 1 microm in length, is 35 nm thick, and consists of bilayers of subunits with a spacing of 9 nm. A detailed model for consortia is presented, summarizing our conclusions regarding (i) cohesion of the cells, (ii) common periplasmic space between the central bacterium and the epibiont, (iii) ECL as a symbiosis-specific structure, and (iv) formation of the interior paracrystalline structures, central bacterium membrane layer, and CBC.

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“…In contrast, interactions between different prokaryotes have received much less attention, such that only the syntrophic associations of anaerobic chemotrophic bacteria with archaea are understood in sufficient detail (42). Microscopic studies have revealed, however, that morphologically highly structured associations of different prokaryotes exist in natural habitats (33,36). In these so-called consortia, prokaryotes maintain a permanent cell-to-cell contact, and hence their mutual interdependence may be obligatory.…”

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Molecular Characterization of the Nonphotosynthetic Partner Bacterium in the Consortium “ Chlorochromatium aggregatum ”

Kanzler

Pfannes

Vogl

et al. 2005

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Phototrophic consortia represent valuable model systems for the study of signal transduction and coevolution between different bacteria. The phototrophic consortium "Chlorochromatium aggregatum" consists of a colorless central rod-shaped bacterium surrounded by about 20 green-pigmented epibionts. Although the epibiont was identified as a member of the green sulfur bacteria, and recently isolated and characterized in pure culture, the central colorless bacterium has been identified as a member of the ␤-Proteobacteria but so far could not be characterized further. In the present study, "C. aggregatum" was enriched chemotactically, and the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the central bacterium was elucidated. Based on the sequence information, fluorescence in situ hybridization probes targeting four different regions of the 16S rRNA were designed and shown to hybridize exclusively to cells of the central bacterium. Phylogenetic analyses of the 1,437-bp-long sequence revealed that the central bacterium of "C. aggregatum" represents a so far isolated phylogenetic lineage related to Rhodoferax spp., Polaromonas vacuolata, and Variovorax paradoxus within the family Comamonadaceae. The majority of relatives of this lineage are not yet cultured and were found in low-temperature aquatic environments or aquatic environments containing xenobiotica or hydrocarbons. In CsCl-bisbenzimidazole equilibrium density gradients, genomic DNA of the central bacterium of "Chlorochromatium aggregatum" formed a distinct band which could be detected by quantitative PCR using specific primers. Using this method, the G؉C content of the central bacterium was determined to be 55.6 mol%.

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Phototrophic Consortia: A Tight Cooperation Between Non-Related Eubacteria

Cited by 15 publications

References 52 publications

Microbial syntrophy: interaction for the common good

Microbial syntrophy: interaction for the common good

Ultrastructural Characterization of the Prokaryotic Symbiosis in “Chlorochromatium aggregatum”

Molecular Characterization of the Nonphotosynthetic Partner Bacterium in the Consortium “ Chlorochromatium aggregatum ”

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