Extraction of membrane lipids during fixation, dehydration and embedding of Acholeplasma laidlawii-cells for electron microscopy

Soft rot is a major problem encountered in potatoes during postharvest storage. The soft rot bacterium Erwinia carotovora was inhibited by a novel bacteriocin-like substance (BLS) produced by Bacillus licheniformis P40. The BLS caused a bactericidal effect on E. carotovora cells at 30 µg mL–1. Transmission electron microscopy showed that BLS-treated cells presented wrinkled bacterial surfaces and shrinkage of the whole cell, indicating plasmolysis. Erwinia carotovora cells treated with BLS were analyzed by FTIR showing differences in the 1390 cm–1 and 1250–1220 cm–1 bands, corresponding to assignments of membrane lipids. BLS was effective in preventing E. carotovora spoilage on potato tubers, reducing the symptoms of soft rot at 240 µg mL–1 and higher concentrations. Soft rot development was completely blocked at 3.7 mg mL–1. This BLS showed potential to protect potato tubers during storage. Key words: bacteriocin, plant pathogen, potato, soft rot, storage.

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Demonstration by Electron Microscopy of Intracellular Virus in Acholeplasma laidlawii Infected with either MV-L3 or a Similar but Serologically Distinct Virus (BN1 virus)

Journal of General Virology ◽

10.1099/0022-1317-42-2-315 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 315-322 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

R. N. Gourlay ◽

S. G. Wyld ◽

A. P. Bland

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Distinct Virus ◽

Acholeplasma Laidlawii ◽

Intracellular Virus

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Cryo-electron microscopy revealed TACAN is extensively and specifically associated with membrane lipids

10.1101/2021.10.11.463882 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Zhen Wang ◽

Fengying Fan ◽

Lili Dong ◽

Qingxia Wang ◽

Yue Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Ion Channel ◽

Membrane Lipids ◽

The Body ◽

Mechanical Hyperalgesia ◽

Transmembrane Helices ◽

Lipid Core ◽

Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽

Mechanosensitive Ion Channel

TACAN is not a mechanosensitive ion channel but significantly linked to the mechanical hyperalgesia. In this study, we show that the human TACAN is a homodimer with each monomer consisting of a body, a spring and a blade domains. The body domain contains six transmembrane helices that forms an independent channel. The spring domain adapts a loop-helix-loop configuration with the helix running within and parallel to the membrane. The blade domain is composed of two cytoplasmic helices. In addition, we found that all the helices of the body and the spring domains are specifically associated with membrane lipids. Particularly, a lipid core, residing within a cavity formed by the two body and spring domains, contacts with the helices from the body and spring domains and extends to reach two symmetrically arranged lipid clusters. These results extremely imply that the membrane lipids coordinate with the membrane-embedded protein to sense and transduce the mechanic signal.

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