Explosive cell lysis as a mechanism for the biogenesis of bacterial membrane vesicles and biofilms

Many bacteria produce extracellular and surface-associated components such as membrane vesicles (MVs), extracellular DNA and moonlighting cytosolic proteins for which the biogenesis and export pathways are not fully understood. Here we show that the explosive cell lysis of a sub-population of cells accounts for the liberation of cytosolic content in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Super-resolution microscopy reveals that explosive cell lysis also produces shattered membrane fragments that rapidly form MVs. A prophage endolysin encoded within the R- and F-pyocin gene cluster is essential for explosive cell lysis. Endolysin-deficient mutants are defective in MV production and biofilm development, consistent…

• NS
  National Science Foundation
• MO
  Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

  Awards: 25701012, 60292520, CREST
• SN
  Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung

  Awards: 143773, 31003A, 130723
• MU
  Monash University
• NH
  National Health and Medical Research Council

  Award: 571905
• JS
  Japan Science and Technology Agency

  Awards: CREST, 60292520, 25701012
• CN
  Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica
• CR
  Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology
• ER
  Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology
• AL
  Advanced Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Program