title: Heterologous protein transfer within structured myxobacteria biofilms.
abstract: Microbial biofilms represent heterogeneous populations of cells that form intimate contacts. Within these populations cells communicate, cooperate and compete. Myxobacteria are noted for their complex social interactions, including gliding motility and lipoprotein exchange. Here, we investigated cis protein sequence and cellular behaviour requirements for lipoprotein transfer between Myxococcus xanthus cells. Specifically, an outer membrane (OM) type II signal sequence (SS) fused to the heterologous mCherry fluorescent reporter resulted in OM localization. When donor cells harbouring SS(OM)-mCherry were mixed with GFP-labelled recipient cells they developed red fluorescence. Our results surprisingly showed that a type II SS for OM localization, but not inner membrane localization, was necessary and sufficient for rapid and efficient heterologous protein transfer. Importantly, transfer did not occur in liquid or on surfaces where cells were poorly aligned. We conclude that cell-cell contact and alignment is a critical step for lipoprotein exchange. We hypothesize that protein transfer facilitates cooperative myxobacteria behaviours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071, USA.
authors.forename: Xueming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Darshankumar T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wall
mesh_terms: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D056265:Microbial Interactions; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008954:Models, Biological; D016941:Myxococcus xanthus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008074:Lipoproteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D021382:Protein Sorting Signals; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000097573:Red Fluorescent Protein