Pili allow dominant marine cyanobacteria to avoid sinking and evade predation

Aguiló-Ferretjans, Maria del Mar; Bosch, Rafael; Puxty, Richard John; Latva, Mira; Zadjelovic, Vinko; Chhun, Audam; Sousoni, Despoina; Polin, Marco; Scanlan, David J.; Christie-Oleza, Joseph Alexander

doi:10.1038/s41467-021-22152-w

Cited by 29 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Other structures tied to the cell surface are extracellular appendages such as the pili [ 37 ] and the spinae [ 38 ]. The type IV pili are appendages that can be extended and retracted, not only for motility or to attach to a surface and form a biofilm, but also to float in planktonic lifestyles and to avoid predation [ 39 ]. The spinae are rigid tubes from 100 nm to 1 µm long that can induce microcolony formation in freshwater Cyanobium sp.…”

Section: The Genus Synechococcusmentioning

confidence: 99%

The “Dark Side” of Picocyanobacteria: Life as We Do Not Know It (Yet)

2022

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Picocyanobacteria of the genus Synechococcus (together with Cyanobium and Prochlorococcus) have captured the attention of microbial ecologists since their description in the 1970s. These pico-sized microorganisms are ubiquitous in aquatic environments and are known to be some of the most ancient and adaptable primary producers. Yet, it was only recently, and thanks to developments in molecular biology and in the understanding of gene sequences and genomes, that we could shed light on the depth of the connection between their evolution and the history of life on the planet. Here, we briefly review the current understanding of these small prokaryotic cells, from their physiological features to their role and dynamics in different aquatic environments, focussing particularly on the still poorly understood ability of picocyanobacteria to adapt to dark conditions. While the recent discovery of Synechococcus strains able to survive in the deep Black Sea highlights how adaptable picocyanobacteria can be, it also raises more questions—showing how much we still do not know about microbial life. Using available information from brackish Black Sea strains able to perform and survive in dark (anoxic) conditions, we illustrate how adaptation to narrow ecological niches interacts with gene evolution and metabolic capacity.

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Section: The Genus Synechococcusmentioning

confidence: 99%

The “Dark Side” of Picocyanobacteria: Life as We Do Not Know It (Yet)

2022

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“…This wide distribution suggests that type IV pili could be the apparatus that drives gliding motility in all cyanobacteria, however, in filamentous species belonging to the Oscillatoriales order [ 7 ] the role of type IV pili has as yet not been analyzed and other mechanisms for movement have been proposed [ 25 ]. Besides gliding movement and DNA uptake, other functions have been described in cyanobacteria in which type IV pili are involved, such as flocculation [ 20 ] or floating in water column [ 26 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The involvement of type IV pili and the phytochrome CphA in gliding motility, lateral motility and photophobotaxis of the cyanobacterium Phormidium lacuna

Lamparter

Fröhlich

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

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Phormidium lacuna is a naturally competent, filamentous cyanobacterium that belongs to the order Oscillatoriales. The filaments are motile on agar and other surfaces and display rapid lateral movements in liquid culture. Furthermore, they exhibit a photophobotactic response, a phototactic response towards light that is projected vertically onto the area covered by the culture. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these phenomena are unclear. We performed the first molecular studies on the motility of an Oscillatoriales member. We generated mutants in which a kanamycin resistance cassette (KanR) was integrated in the phytochrome gene cphA and in various genes of the type IV pilin apparatus. pilM, pilN, pilQ and pilT mutants were defective in gliding motility, lateral movements and photophobotaxis, indicating that type IV pili are involved in all three kinds of motility. pilB mutants were only partially blocked in terms of their responses. pilB is the proposed ATPase for expelling of the filament in type IV pili. The genome reveals proteins sharing weak pilB homology in the ATPase region, these might explain the incomplete phenotype. The cphA mutant revealed a significantly reduced photophobotactic response towards red light. Therefore, our results imply that CphA acts as one of several photophobotaxis photoreceptors or that it could modulate the photophobotaxis response.

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“…4A). To test whether the damage to HlyBD‐TolC system cause cell sedimentation, the typical phenotype of the mutant of type IV pili and extracellular polysaccharide (Jittawuttipoka et al ., 2013; Flores et al ., 2019; Aguilo‐Ferretjans et al ., 2021), an experiment of motionless incubation for 18 days was conducted. The results showed that the cultures of the ∆ hlyB , and ∆ slyA mutants and the wild‐type strain were turbid with little precipitate (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Special roles for efflux systems in iron homeostasis of non‐siderophore‐producing cyanobacteria

Liu

Deng

et al. 2021

Environmental Microbiology

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Summary In oligotrophic oceans, low bioavailability of Fe is a key factor limiting primary productivity. However, excessive Fe in cells leads to the Fenton reaction, which is toxic to cells. Cyanobacteria must strictly maintain intracellular Fe homeostasis. Here, we knocked out a series of genes encoding efflux systems in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, and found eight genes that are required for high Fe detoxification. Unexpectedly, the HlyBD‐TolC efflux system plays an important role in the adaptation of Synechocystis under Fe‐deficient conditions. Mutants of HlyD and TolC grew worse than the wild‐type strain under low‐Fe conditions and showed significantly lower intracellular Fe contents than the wild‐type strain. We excluded the possibility that the low Fe sensitivity of the HlyBD‐TolC mutants was caused by a loss of the S‐layer, the main extracellular protein secreted via this efflux system. Inactivation of the HlyD protein influenced type IV pili formation and direct inactivation of type IV pili related genes affected the adaptation to low‐Fe conditions. HlyBD‐TolC system is likely involved in the formation of type IV pili and indirectly influenced Fe acquisition. Our findings suggest that efflux system in non‐siderophore‐producing cyanobacteria can facilitate Fe uptake and help cells adapt to Fe‐deficient conditions via novel pathways.

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Pili allow dominant marine cyanobacteria to avoid sinking and evade predation

Cited by 29 publications

References 54 publications

The “Dark Side” of Picocyanobacteria: Life as We Do Not Know It (Yet)

The “Dark Side” of Picocyanobacteria: Life as We Do Not Know It (Yet)

The involvement of type IV pili and the phytochrome CphA in gliding motility, lateral motility and photophobotaxis of the cyanobacterium Phormidium lacuna

Special roles for efflux systems in iron homeostasis of non‐siderophore‐producing cyanobacteria

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