Phagocytosis-like cell engulfment by a planctomycete bacterium

Takashi Shiratori (), Shigekatsu Suzuki, Yukako Kakizawa and Ken-ichiro Ishida
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Takashi Shiratori: University of Tsukuba
Shigekatsu Suzuki: National Institute for Environmental Studies
Yukako Kakizawa: University of Tsukuba
Ken-ichiro Ishida: University of Tsukuba

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Phagocytosis is a key eukaryotic feature, conserved from unicellular protists to animals, that enabled eukaryotes to feed on other organisms. It could also be a driving force behind endosymbiosis, a process by which α-proteobacteria and cyanobacteria evolved into mitochondria and plastids, respectively. Here we describe a planctomycete bacterium, ‘Candidatus Uab amorphum’, which is able to engulf other bacteria and small eukaryotic cells through a phagocytosis-like mechanism. Observations via light and electron microscopy suggest that this bacterium digests prey cells in specific compartments. With the possible exception of a gene encoding an actin-like protein, analysis of the ‘Ca. Uab amorphum’ genomic sequence does not reveal any genes homologous to eukaryotic phagocytosis genes, suggesting that cell engulfment in this microorganism is probably not homologous to eukaryotic phagocytosis. The discovery of this “phagotrophic” bacterium expands our understanding of the cellular complexity of prokaryotes, and may be relevant to the origin of eukaryotic cells.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13499-2

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