Characterization of giant spheroplasts generated from the aerobic anoxygenic photosynthetic marine bacterium...

We generated and characterized giant spheroplasts from the aerobic anoxygenic photosynthetic marine bacterium Roseobacter litoralis. The giant spheroplasts contained vacuole-like structures within the cells, mainly consisting of a single membrane. The in vivo absorption spectrum of the giant spheroplasts did not have peaks typically observed for bacteriochlorophyll a. The culture media pH decreased during the growth of the giant spheroplasts. The change in the pH profile for cells grown under light was no different from that for cells grown in the dark. These results showed that the R. litoralis giant spheroplasts formed lost their photosynthetic apparatus in culture. Most of the giant spheroplasts returned to their original size, likely via filamentous cells. The culture media pH increased during the growth of the filamentous cells. Some filamentous cells had septum-like structures. In such filamentous cells, DNA was separated. Initially, the color of the separated cells was white. Two weeks later, the cells changed to red in the dark, and the in vivo absorption spectrum of the cells had peaks typically observed for bacteriochlorophyll a. Our findings strongly suggest that the giant spheroplasts of R. litoralis can control the genetic information, return to their original cell size, and regain their original functions.