The sequence of the major gas vesicle protein, GvpA, influences the width and strength of halobacterial gas vesicles.
Transformation experiments with Haloferax volcanii show that the amino acid sequence of the gas vesicle protein GvpA influences the morphology and strength of gas vesicles produced by halophilic archaea. A modified expression vector containing p-gvpA was used to complement a Vac(-) strain of Hfx. volcanii that harboured the entire p-vac region (from Halobacterium salinarum PHH1) except for p-gvpA. Replacement of p-gvpA with mc-gvpA (from Haloferax mediterranei) led to the synthesis of gas vesicles that were narrower and stronger. Other gene replacements (using c-gvpA from Hbt. salinarum or mutated p-gvpA sequences) led to a significant but smaller increase in gas vesicle strength, and less marked effects on gas vesicle morphology.
Beard
Steven J
SJ
School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, UK.
Hayes
Paul K
PK
Pfeifer
Felicitas
F
Walsby
Anthony E
AE
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015870:Gene Expression; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D016931:Halobacteriales / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D011506:Proteins; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C038524:gas vesicle protein