Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026
08:06
Study of Phagolysosome Biogenesis in Live Macrophages
Published on: March 10, 2014
14.8K
A Ubiquitous Platform for Bacterial Nanotube Biogenesis
Saurabh Bhattacharya1, Amit K Baidya1, Ritesh Ranjan Pal1
1Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, POB 12272, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel.
Cell Reports
|April 2, 2019
Summary
Bacterial nanotubes, essential for intercellular molecular trade, are built by conserved flagellar export apparatus components (CORE). This discovery reveals a widespread mechanism for bacterial communication and resource sharing.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Membranous nanotubes facilitate intercellular trafficking in bacteria, but their biogenesis components were unknown.
- Understanding nanotube formation is key to deciphering bacterial communication and nutrient exchange.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the molecular machinery responsible for bacterial nanotube biogenesis.
- To investigate the role of flagellar export apparatus components in nanotube formation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Bacillus subtilis (Bs) as a model organism.
- Generated mutants lacking specific flagellar export apparatus genes (CORE components).
- Observed nanotube formation and intercellular trafficking using microscopy and genetic analysis.
Main Results:
- Identified conserved flagellar export apparatus components (CORE) as essential for nanotube biogenesis.
- CORE mutants showed defects in both nanotube production and intercellular molecular trafficking.
- CORE-mediated nanotube formation is conserved across diverse bacterial species.
Conclusions:
- The CORE complex serves a dual role in flagellum and nanotube assembly.
- CORE-derived nanotubes are ubiquitous bacterial organelles facilitating molecular trade.
- This finding expands our understanding of bacterial intercellular communication and cooperation.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Bacterial Signaling
40.4K
Bacterial signaling can occur within bacteria (intracellular) or between bacteria (intercellular). At times, a group of bacteria behaves like a community. To achieve this, they engage in quorum sensing, the perception of higher cell density that causes changes in gene expression. Quorum sensing involves both extracellular and intracellular signaling. The signaling cascade starts with a molecule called an autoinducer (AI). Individual bacteria produce AIs that move out of the bacterial cell...
40.4K
01:33Bacterial Transformation
59.5K
In 1928, bacteriologist Frederick Griffith worked on a vaccine for pneumonia, which is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Griffith studied two pneumonia strains in mice: one pathogenic and one non-pathogenic. Only the pathogenic strain killed host mice.
Griffith made an unexpected discovery when he killed the pathogenic strain and mixed its remains with the live, non-pathogenic strain. Not only did the mixture kill host mice, but it also contained living pathogenic bacteria that...
Griffith made an unexpected discovery when he killed the pathogenic strain and mixed its remains with the live, non-pathogenic strain. Not only did the mixture kill host mice, but it also contained living pathogenic bacteria that...
59.5K
00:43Bacterial RNA Polymerase
32.6K
Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use a single RNA Polymerase (RNAP) to transcribe all genes. The different subunits of bacterial RNAPhave distinct functions. The multisubunit structure of the bacterial RNAP helps the enzyme to maintain catalytic function, facilitate assembly, interact with DNA and RNA, and self-regulate its activity.
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
32.6K
01:53Bacterial Transcription
36.0K
RNA polymerase (RNAP) carries out DNA-dependent RNA synthesis in both bacteria and eukaryotes. Bacteria do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. So, transcription and translation occur simultaneously, on the same DNA template.
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:
36.0K
01:22Bacterial Cell Wall
2.3K
The bacterial cell wall is an essential structural component that encases the plasma membrane, preserving cellular integrity, determining shape, and protecting against osmotic stress. This rigid yet flexible structure primarily comprises peptidoglycan, a polymer that forms a mesh-like matrix conferring mechanical strength and flexibility.Peptidoglycan Composition and StructurePeptidoglycan, the core of the bacterial cell wall, comprises alternating units of N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and...
2.3K
01:26Bacterial Phylum Proteobacteria
824
Proteobacteria, one of the largest and most diverse bacterial phyla, encompasses a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria distinguished by their outer membrane composed of lipopolysaccharides. These microorganisms exhibit various metabolic capabilities, including phototrophy, chemolithotrophy, and heterotrophy, and thrive in diverse environments from soil to aquatic systems and host-associated niches. The phylum is divided into six classes: Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria,...
824