title: A mannan binding lectin is involved in cell-cell attachment in a toxic strain of Microcystis aeruginosa.
abstract: Microcystin, a hepatotoxin that represents a serious health risk for humans and livestock, is produced by the bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa in freshwater bodies worldwide. Here we describe the discovery of a lectin, microvirin (MVN), in M. aeruginosa PCC7806 that shares 33% identity with the potent anti-HIV protein cyanovirin-N from Nostoc ellipsosporum. Carbohydrate microarrays were employed to demonstrate the high specificity of the protein for high-mannose structures containing alpha(1-->2) linked mannose residues. Lectin binding analyses and phenotypic characterizations of MVN-deficient mutants suggest that MVN is involved in cell-cell recognition and cell-cell attachment of Microcystis. A binding partner of MVN was identified in the lipopolysaccharide fraction of M. aeruginosa PCC7806. MVN is differentially expressed in mutants lacking the hepatotoxin microcystin. Additionally, MVN-deficient mutants contain much lower amounts of microcystin than the wild-type cells. We discuss a possible functional correlation between microcystin and the lectin and possible implications on Microcystis morphotype formation. This study provides the first experimental evidence that microcystins may have an impact on Microcystis colony formation that is highly important for the competitive advantage of Microcystis over other phytoplankton species.
authors.affiliation: Humboldt University, Institute of Biology, Department of Molecular Ecology, Chausseestr., 117, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan-Christoph
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kehr
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zilliges
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Springer
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Disney
authors.forename: Daniel D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Ratner
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bouchier
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Seeberger
authors.forename: Nicole Tandeau
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: de Marsac
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dittmann
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D008358:Mannose / Q000378:metabolism; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D052998:Microcystins; D046931:Microcystis / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin; D052998:Microcystins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C552210:microvirin protein, Microcystis aeruginosa; C107733:cyanovirin N; C078588:microcystin; D008358:Mannose