Planctomycetal cell division: Analysis of the budding mechanism in Planctomyces limnophilus

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Christian Jogler
• Subject Area: Microbial Ecology and Applied Microbiology ; Metabolism, Biochemistry and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Term: from 2013 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 247689746

Planctomycetes are part of the Verrucomicrobia-Chlamydiae-Planctomycetes superphylum and possess features that are not found in other phylogenetic branches of Bacteria. One of these characteristics is the FtsZ-independent, asymmetric cell division (budding). The hitherto unknown structural and molecular basis of the budding and cell maturation process will be investigated in the model organism Planctomyces limnophilus. The 3D structure of the developing bud, of macromolecular complexes involved in budding site formation and DNA-translocation into the bud, and of crateriform complexes effecting the membrane organization will be determined by cryo-electron tomography (CET) of intact cells in situ and by subtomogram averaging. We recently established genetic tools for the first planctomycetal species, i.e. P. limnophilus, that will be used to label and to eliminate selected proteins that have been identified to participate in bud development. Time-lapse fluorescence microscopy will be employed to locate these proteins in cells during maturation, and high-resolution cryo-correlative fluorescence microscopy will guide us to the respective structures in tomograms obtained by CET.The goal is to identify selected proteins in macromolecular complexes, to locate these in the budding cell, and to get insight into their function by following the structural changes in the course of the budding process.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants