Cell-cell communication in filamentous cyanobacteria.
Although cytoplasmic bridges between adjacent cells in the filaments of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria have been known for decades, the existence also of a continuous periplasm along the filaments raised the possibility that alternative modes of communication between cells could be utilized. The latter hypothesis was investigated by using GFP fusions to proteins whose expression is cell-specific and engineered to be transported into the periplasm. Two groups have recently obtained contradictory results, one supporting periplasmic transport of GFP from cell to cell, the other not. A third effort, involving members of the first group, used a smaller, soluble fluorophore and found rapid communication via the cytoplasmic bridges between cells. The dilemma of periplasmic diffusion remains unresolved.
Haselkorn
Robert
R
Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, The University of Chicago, 920 East 58 Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. rh01@uchicago.edu
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001692:Biological Transport; D002450:Cell Communication; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019897:Periplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D033902:Periplasmic Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D033902:Periplasmic Binding Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins