Immunoelectron microscopic studies indicate the existence of a cell shape preserving cytoskeleton in prokaryotes.
Immunoelectron microscopic studies of prokaryotes were performed with anti-actin antibodies directed against the C terminus of actin. Studies on ultrathin sections revealed high proportions of the overall label close to the cell periphery in Escherichia coli, Ralstonia eutropha, Thermoanaerobacterium thermosulfurigenes, T. thermosaccharolyticum, and Methanococcus jannaschii. Substantial label also in the cytoplasm was observed in Bacillus sp., Methanococcus voltae, and Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum. Only very minor amounts of label were found in the nucleoid region of the cells. Whole-mount immunogold studies, combined with negative staining, revealed the existence of an intracellular network of fibrils which could be labeled by anti-actin antibodies. This network is assumed to be located below the cytoplasmic membrane all around the cytoplasm. It appears to have properties that would allow its function as a cytoskeleton-like structure preserving cell shape.
Institut für Mikrobiologie und Genetik, Abteilung Strukturelle Mikrobiologie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany.
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Mayer
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Vogt
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Poc
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000421:Alcaligenes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001419:Bacteria / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003013:Clostridium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019605:Euryarchaeota / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D017014:Methanobacterium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017017:Methanococcus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron / Q000379:methods
D000199:Actins