title: Detection of outer membrane vesicles in Synechocystis PCC 6803.
abstract: It has been well established that many species of Gram-negative bacteria release nanoscale outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) during normal growth. Furthermore, the roles of these structures in heterotrophic bacteria have been extensively characterized. However, little is known about the existence or function of OMVs in photoautotrophs. In the present study, we report for the first time the production of OMVs by the model photosynthetic organism Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, a species of biotechnological importance. We detected extracellular proteins and lipids in cell-free supernatants derived from Synechocystis culture, yet the cytoplasmic and thylakoid membrane markers NADH oxidase and chlorophyll were absent. This indicated that the extracellular proteins and lipids derived from the outer membrane, and not from cell lysis. Furthermore, we identified spherical structures within the expected size range of OMVs in Synechocystis culture using scanning electron microscopy. Taken together, these results suggest that the repertoire of Gram-negative bacteria that are known to produce OMVs may be expanded to include Synechocystis PCC6803. Because of the considerable genetic characterization of Synechocystis in particular, our discovery has the potential to support novel biotechnological applications as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.
authors.forename: Yehudah A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA Binghamton Biofilm Research Center, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Florez
authors.affiliation: STEM and Health Professions Division, SUNY Rockland Community College, Technology Center, 145 College Road, Suffern, NY 10901, USA.
authors.forename: Kristopher M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA Binghamton Biofilm Research Center, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Schertzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA Binghamton Biofilm Research Center, Binghamton University, PO Box 6000, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA gmahler@binghamton.edu.
authors.forename: Gretchen J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Mahler
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D000067128:Extracellular Vesicles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010788:Photosynthesis; D046939:Synechocystis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002734:Chlorophyll
keywords: cyanobacteria; outer membrane vesicles; photosynthesis