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Gliding ghosts of Mycoplasma mobile

Atsuko Uenoyama1, Makoto Miyata

  • 1Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|August 30, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Mycoplasma mobile gliding is powered by ATP hydrolysis. A new permeabilized cell model shows this energy source drives the cell

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Mycoplasmas exhibit gliding motility via an unknown mechanism.
  • The gliding machinery in Mycoplasma mobile is located at the cell neck and involves large proteins forming surface-binding spikes.
  • Previous research suggested a mechanical model of propulsion through spike-surface interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the intracellular energy source driving Mycoplasma mobile gliding.
  • To establish a functional model for studying the biochemical mechanisms of mycoplasma gliding.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a permeabilized gliding ghost model of Mycoplasma mobile using Triton X-100 treatment.
  • Assay of gliding reactivation in ghost cells upon exogenous ATP addition.
  • Analysis of nucleotide and ATP analog effects on gliding activity and kinetics.

Main Results:

  • Permeabilized mycoplasma ghosts were successfully generated, halting motility.
  • Addition of exogenous ATP reactivated gliding in approximately 85% of ghost cells at speeds comparable to live cells.
  • Gliding was dependent on ATP hydrolysis, with specific kinetic parameters observed for nucleotide interactions, indicating an ATPase-driven mechanism.

Conclusions:

  • Mycoplasma gliding motility is powered by the hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
  • The established permeabilized ghost model is effective for studying the biochemical drivers of mycoplasma gliding.
  • An unknown ATPase is responsible for harnessing ATP energy for the gliding machinery.

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