Cell contact-dependent outer membrane exchange in myxobacteria: genetic determinants and mechanism.
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 t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2012-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS Genetics |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3325183?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1811295234931294208 |
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| author | Darshankumar T Pathak Xueming Wei Alex Bucuvalas Daniel H Haft Dietlind L Gerloff Daniel Wall |
| author_facet | Darshankumar T Pathak Xueming Wei Alex Bucuvalas Daniel H Haft Dietlind L Gerloff Daniel Wall |
| author_sort | Darshankumar T Pathak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:29:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-89baf91714174c0a81ab1c45d5d3112e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1553-7390 1553-7404 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:29:35Z |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS Genetics |
| spelling | doaj.art-89baf91714174c0a81ab1c45d5d3112e2022-12-22T03:00:29ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Genetics1553-73901553-74042012-01-0184e100262610.1371/journal.pgen.1002626Cell contact-dependent outer membrane exchange in myxobacteria: genetic determinants and mechanism.Darshankumar T PathakXueming WeiAlex BucuvalasDaniel H HaftDietlind L GerloffDaniel WallBiofilms 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.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3325183?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Darshankumar T Pathak Xueming Wei Alex Bucuvalas Daniel H Haft Dietlind L Gerloff Daniel Wall Cell contact-dependent outer membrane exchange in myxobacteria: genetic determinants and mechanism. PLoS Genetics |
| title | Cell contact-dependent outer membrane exchange in myxobacteria: genetic determinants and mechanism. |
| title_full | Cell contact-dependent outer membrane exchange in myxobacteria: genetic determinants and mechanism. |
| title_fullStr | Cell contact-dependent outer membrane exchange in myxobacteria: genetic determinants and mechanism. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cell contact-dependent outer membrane exchange in myxobacteria: genetic determinants and mechanism. |
| title_short | Cell contact-dependent outer membrane exchange in myxobacteria: genetic determinants and mechanism. |
| title_sort | cell contact dependent outer membrane exchange in myxobacteria genetic determinants and mechanism |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3325183?pdf=render |
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