Life without a cell membrane: challenging the specificity of bacterial endophytes within Bryopsis (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta).

ABSTRACT:

Background

The siphonous green macroalga Bryopsis has some remarkable characteristics. Besides hosting a rich endophytic bacterial flora, Bryopsis also displays extraordinary wound repair and propagation mechanisms. This latter feature includes the formation of protoplasts which can survive in the absence of a cell membrane for several minutes before regenerating into new individuals. This transient 'life without a membrane' state, however, challenges the specificity of the endophytic bacterial communities present and raises the question whether these bacteria are generalists, which are repeatedly acquired from the environment, or if there is some specificity towards the Bryopsis host.

Results

To answer this question, we examined the temporal stability and the uniqueness of

SUBMITTER: Hollants J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3252328 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature