Abstract
Bacterial nanotubes are membranous structures that have been reported to function as conduits between cells to exchange DNA, proteins, and nutrients. Here, we investigate the morphology and formation of bacterial nanotubes using Bacillus subtilis. We show that nanotube formation is associated with stress conditions, and is highly sensitive to the cells’ genetic background, growth phase, and sample preparation methods. Remarkably, nanotubes appear to be extruded exclusively from dying cells, likely as a result of biophysical forces. Their emergence is extremely fast, occurring within seconds by cannibalizing the cell membrane. Subsequent experiments reveal that cell-to-cell transfer of non-conjugative plasmids depends strictly on the competence system of the cell, and not on nanotube formation. Our study thus supports the notion that bacterial nanotubes are a post mortem phenomenon involved in cell disintegration, and are unlikely to be involved in cytoplasmic content exchange between live cells.
Highlights
Bacterial nanotubes are membranous structures that have been reported to function as conduits between cells to exchange DNA, proteins, and nutrients
Our study indicates that the bacterial membranous tubular structures, often called nanotubes, are formed when the cells are dying, or after cell death, as a consequence of the compromised cell wall and excess internal pressure (Fig. 6)
Our initial experiments were aimed at defining the genetic requirements for NT formation
Summary
Bacterial nanotubes are membranous structures that have been reported to function as conduits between cells to exchange DNA, proteins, and nutrients. Intercellular NTs can function as conduits for transport of molecules such as metabolites (e.g., amino acids), proteins (including toxins), and even non-conjugative plasmids[1,2,14]. These intercellular tubes can be formed between two cells of a single bacterial species, between cells of two different bacterial species, and even between a bacterium and a eukaryotic host, where the bacterium uses NTs to extract nutrients from its host, as reported for enteropathogenic E. coli[15].
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