EMD-13773
Subtomogram average of baseplate region of contractile injection systems in Anabaena PCC 7120 in extended state
EMD-13773
Subtomogram averaging29.1 Å
![EMD-13773](https://www.ebi.ac.uk/emdb/images/entry/EMD-13773/400_13773.gif)
Map released: 23/02/2022
Last modified: 13/12/2023
Sample Organism:
Nostoc sp. PCC 7120 = FACHB-418
Sample: Baseplate region of contractile injection system of Anabaena PCC 7120 in extended state
Deposition Authors: Weiss GL
,
Eisenstein F
,
Pilhofer M
Sample: Baseplate region of contractile injection system of Anabaena PCC 7120 in extended state
Deposition Authors: Weiss GL
![](http://www.ebi.ac.uk/web_guidelines/images/logos/orcid/orcid_16x16.png)
![](http://www.ebi.ac.uk/web_guidelines/images/logos/orcid/orcid_16x16.png)
![](http://www.ebi.ac.uk/web_guidelines/images/logos/orcid/orcid_16x16.png)
Structure of a thylakoid-anchored contractile injection system in multicellular cyanobacteria.
Weiss GL
,
Eisenstein F
,
Kieninger AK,
Xu J
,
Minas HA
,
Gerber M,
Feldmuller M
,
Maldener I,
Forchhammer K
,
Pilhofer M
(2022) Nat Microbiol , 7 , 386 - 396
![](http://www.ebi.ac.uk/web_guidelines/images/logos/orcid/orcid_16x16.png)
![](http://www.ebi.ac.uk/web_guidelines/images/logos/orcid/orcid_16x16.png)
![](http://www.ebi.ac.uk/web_guidelines/images/logos/orcid/orcid_16x16.png)
![](http://www.ebi.ac.uk/web_guidelines/images/logos/orcid/orcid_16x16.png)
![](http://www.ebi.ac.uk/web_guidelines/images/logos/orcid/orcid_16x16.png)
![](http://www.ebi.ac.uk/web_guidelines/images/logos/orcid/orcid_16x16.png)
![](http://www.ebi.ac.uk/web_guidelines/images/logos/orcid/orcid_16x16.png)
(2022) Nat Microbiol , 7 , 386 - 396
Abstract:
Contractile injection systems (CISs) mediate cell-cell interactions by phage tail-like structures, using two distinct modes of action: extracellular CISs are released into the medium, while type 6 secretion systems (T6SSs) are attached to the cytoplasmic membrane and function upon cell-cell contact. Here, we characterized a CIS in the multicellular cyanobacterium Anabaena, with features distinct from extracellular CISs and T6SSs. Cryo-electron tomography of focused ion beam-milled cells revealed that CISs were anchored in thylakoid membrane stacks, facing the cell periphery. Single particle cryo-electron microscopy showed that this unique in situ localization was mediated by extensions of tail fibre and baseplate components. On stress, cyanobacteria induced the formation of ghost cells, presenting thylakoid-anchored CISs to the environment. Functional assays suggest that these CISs may mediate ghost cell formation and/or interactions of ghost cells with other organisms. Collectively, these data provide a framework for understanding the evolutionary re-engineering of CISs and potential roles of these CISs in cyanobacterial programmed cell death.
Contractile injection systems (CISs) mediate cell-cell interactions by phage tail-like structures, using two distinct modes of action: extracellular CISs are released into the medium, while type 6 secretion systems (T6SSs) are attached to the cytoplasmic membrane and function upon cell-cell contact. Here, we characterized a CIS in the multicellular cyanobacterium Anabaena, with features distinct from extracellular CISs and T6SSs. Cryo-electron tomography of focused ion beam-milled cells revealed that CISs were anchored in thylakoid membrane stacks, facing the cell periphery. Single particle cryo-electron microscopy showed that this unique in situ localization was mediated by extensions of tail fibre and baseplate components. On stress, cyanobacteria induced the formation of ghost cells, presenting thylakoid-anchored CISs to the environment. Functional assays suggest that these CISs may mediate ghost cell formation and/or interactions of ghost cells with other organisms. Collectively, these data provide a framework for understanding the evolutionary re-engineering of CISs and potential roles of these CISs in cyanobacterial programmed cell death.