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Prophage-triggered membrane vesicle formation through peptidoglycan damage in Bacillus subtilis

Author

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  • Masanori Toyofuku

    (University of Tsukuba
    University of Zürich)

  • Gerardo Cárcamo-Oyarce

    (University of Zürich
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Tatsuya Yamamoto

    (University of Tsukuba)

  • Fabian Eisenstein

    (Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics)

  • Chien-Chi Hsiao

    (University of Zürich)

  • Masaharu Kurosawa

    (University of Tsukuba)

  • Karl Gademann

    (University of Zürich)

  • Martin Pilhofer

    (Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics)

  • Nobuhiko Nomura

    (University of Tsukuba)

  • Leo Eberl

    (University of Zürich)

Abstract

Bacteria release membrane vesicles (MVs) that play important roles in various biological processes. However, the mechanisms of MV formation in Gram-positive bacteria are unclear, as these cells possess a single cytoplasmic membrane that is surrounded by a thick cell wall. Here we use live cell imaging and electron cryo-tomography to describe a mechanism for MV formation in Bacillus subtilis. We show that the expression of a prophage-encoded endolysin in a sub-population of cells generates holes in the peptidoglycan cell wall. Through these openings, cytoplasmic membrane material protrudes into the extracellular space and is released as MVs. Due to the loss of membrane integrity, the induced cells eventually die. The vesicle-producing cells induce MV formation in neighboring cells by the enzymatic action of the released endolysin. Our results support the idea that endolysins may be important for MV formation in bacteria, and this mechanism may potentially be useful for the production of MVs for applications in biomedicine and nanotechnology.

Suggested Citation

  • Masanori Toyofuku & Gerardo Cárcamo-Oyarce & Tatsuya Yamamoto & Fabian Eisenstein & Chien-Chi Hsiao & Masaharu Kurosawa & Karl Gademann & Martin Pilhofer & Nobuhiko Nomura & Leo Eberl, 2017. "Prophage-triggered membrane vesicle formation through peptidoglycan damage in Bacillus subtilis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-00492-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00492-w
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    Cited by:

    1. Arles Urrutia & Víctor A García-Angulo & Andrés Fuentes & Mauricio Caneo & Marcela Legüe & Sebastián Urquiza & Scarlett E Delgado & Juan Ugalde & Paula Burdisso & Andrea Calixto, 2020. "Bacterially produced metabolites protect C. elegans neurons from degeneration," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(3), pages 1-31, March.

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