The Variable Internal Structure of the Mycoplasma penetrans Attachment Organelle Revealed by Biochemical and Microscopic Analyses: Implications for Attachment Organelle Mechanism and Evolution.

ABSTRACT: Although mycoplasmas have small genomes, many of them, including the HIV-associated opportunist Mycoplasma penetrans, construct a polar attachment organelle (AO) that is used for both adherence to host cells and gliding motility. However, the irregular phylogenetic distribution of similar structures within the mycoplasmas, as well as compositional and ultrastructural differences among these AOs, suggests that AOs have arisen several times through convergent evolution. We investigated the ultrastructure and protein composition of the cytoskeleton-like material of the M. penetrans AO with several forms of microscopy and biochemical analysis, to determine whether the M. penetrans AO was constructed at the molecular level on principles similar to those of other mycoplasmas, such as Mycoplasma

SUBMITTER: Distelhorst SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5446615 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature