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Journal of Bacteriology, January 2005, p. 224-230, Vol. 187, No. 1
0021-9193/05/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.187.1.224-230.2005
Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Inactivation of swmA Results in the Loss of an Outer Cell Layer in a Swimming Synechococcus Strain

Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography,¹ National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of California—San Diego, La Jolla, California,³ Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri²

Received 14 July 2004/ Accepted 25 September 2004

The mechanism of nonflagellar swimming of marine unicellular cyanobacteria remains poorly understood. SwmA is an abundant cell surface-associated 130-kDa glycoprotein that is required for the generation of thrust in Synechococcus sp. strain WH8102. Ultrastructural comparisons of wild-type cells to a mutant strain in which the gene encoding SwmA has been insertionally inactivated reveal that the mutant lacks a layer external to the outer membrane. Cryofixation and freeze-substitution are required for the preservation of this external layer. Freeze fracturing and etching reveal that this additional layer is an S-layer. How the S-layer might function in motility remains elusive; however, this work describes an ultrastructural component required for this unique type of swimming. In addition, the work presented here describes the envelope structure of a model swimming cyanobacterium.

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