Open AccessA polyyne toxin produced by an antagonistic bacterium blinds and lyses a Chlamydomonad alga
Author(s) -
Vivien Hotter,
David Zopf,
Hak Joong Kim,
Anja Silge,
Michael Schmitt,
Prasad Aiyar,
Johanna Fleck,
Christian Matthäus,
Julian Hniopek,
Qingpi Yan,
Joyce E. Loper,
Severin Sasso,
Christian Hertweck,
Jürgen Popp,
Maria Mittag
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2107695118
Subject(s) - chlamydomonas reinhardtii , biology , bacteria , algae , microbiology and biotechnology , gene cluster , mutant , extremophile , gene , botany , microorganism , biochemistry , genetics
Significance Algae live in association with microbes that interact by a variety of chemical mediators, resulting in mutualistic or antagonistic relationships. Although algae are key contributors to carbon fixation and are fundamental for food webs, we still know little about the underlying molecular mechanisms affecting their fitness. This study investigates the interaction between an antagonistic bacterium and a unicellular alga. It demonstrates multiple roles of a polyyne, protegencin, that is used by the bacteria to attack green algal cells. It is a highly effective toxin that alters a subcellular algal compartment used for vision, bleaches, and lyses the algal cells. These results expand our knowledge of the arsenal of chemical mediators in bacteria and their modes of action in algal communities.