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J. Bacteriol. doi:10.1128/JB.01538-07
Copyright (c) 2008, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

3D imaging of the highly bent architecture of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus using cryo-electron tomography

Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD USA 20892

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: jmilne{at}nih.gov.

	Abstract

B. bacteriovorus cells are small -proteobacteria that feed on other gram-negative bacteria, including human pathogens. Using cryo-electron tomography, we demonstrate that B. bacteriovorus cells are capable of substantial flexibility and local deformations of their outer and inner membranes without loss of cell integrity. These shape changes can occur in less than 2 minutes, and analysis of the internal architecture of highly bent cells shows that the overall distribution of molecular machines and the nucleoid is similar to those seen in moderately bent cells. B. bacteriovorus cells appear to contain an extensive internal network of short and long filamentous structures. We propose that rearrangements of these structures, in combination with the unique properties of the cell envelope may underlie the remarkable ability of B. bacteriovorus cells to find and enter bacterial prey.

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