title: PVC bacteria: variation of, but not exception to, the Gram-negative cell plan.
abstract: Planctomycetes-Verrucomicrobia-Chlamydiae (PVC) bacteria have features that differentiate them from classical Gram-negative (G-) bacteria. One such feature is their complex endomembrane system. Based on the difference of membrane organization and compartment identity, PVC bacteria were proposed to form an exception to the bacterial G- cell plan. Here I argue that all PVC membranes are derived from G- membranes, and that their organization and the compartments they form are similar to those of G- bacteria. I suggest that PVC membrane organization should be evaluated within a G- framework and as a variation of it.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Organismal Studies (COS), Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 230, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: dpdevos@upo.es.
authors.forename: Damien P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Devos
mesh_terms: D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008954:Models, Biological
keywords: PVC; bacterial cell plan; domains of life