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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2007, p. 586-593, Vol. 73, No. 2
0099-2240/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.01839-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) Granules at the Early Stages of Formation Are Localized Close to the Cytoplasmic Membrane in Caryophanon latum{triangledown} ,{dagger}

Dieter Jendrossek,1* Olaf Selchow,2 and Michael Hoppert3

Institut für Mikrobiologie, Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany,1 Institut für Zellbiologie und Immunologie, Universität Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany,2 Institut für Mikrobiologie und Genetik, Georg-August-Universität, Göttingen, Germany3

Received 3 August 2006/ Accepted 29 October 2006

Localization of newly synthesized poly(3hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) granules was determined by confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy of Nile red-stained cells and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). PHB granules of Nile red-stained living cells of Caryophanon latum at the early stages of PHB accumulation were frequently found at or close to the cytoplasmic membrane. TEM analysis of the same culture revealed electron-translucent globular structures resembling PHB granules that were nonrandomly distributed in the cell lumen but were frequently found at or close to the cytoplasmic membrane. Immunogold labeling using PHB-specific antiserum confirmed that the electron-translucent structures represented PHB granules. Electron microscopy examination of PHB granules after cell lysis revealed that PHB granules were often associated with membrane vesicles. Nonrandom localization of PHB granules was also found in Beijerinckia indica. Cells of this species harbored one PHB granule at each cell pole. Our results show that newly synthesized PHB granules often are close to or even in physical contact with the cytoplasmic membrane. Possible explanations for this unexpected finding and a hypothetical model of PHB granule formation in C. latum are discussed.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Institut für Mikrobiologie, Universität Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70550 Stuttgart, Germany. Phone: 49-711-685-65483. Fax: 49-711-685-65725. E-mail: dieter.jendrossek{at}imb.uni-stuttgart.de.

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 3 November 2006.

{dagger} Supplemental material for this article may be found at http://aem.asm.org/.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2007, p. 586-593, Vol. 73, No. 2
0099-2240/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.01839-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Jendrossek, D. (2009). Polyhydroxyalkanoate Granules Are Complex Subcellular Organelles (Carbonosomes). J. Bacteriol. 191: 3195-3202 [Full Text]  
  • Dennis, D., Sein, V., Martinez, E., Augustine, B. (2008). PhaP Is Involved in the Formation of a Network on the Surface of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Inclusions in Cupriavidus necator H16. J. Bacteriol. 190: 555-563 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Uchino, K., Saito, T., Gebauer, B., Jendrossek, D. (2007). Isolated Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) Granules Are Complex Bacterial Organelles Catalyzing Formation of PHB from Acetyl Coenzyme A (CoA) and Degradation of PHB to Acetyl-CoA. J. Bacteriol. 189: 8250-8256 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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