Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Organization, Structure, And Assembly Of Alpha-Carboxysomes Determined By Electron Cryotomography Of Intact Cells, Cristina V. Iancu, Dylan M. Morris, Zhicheng Dou, Sabine Heinhorst, Gordon C. Cannon, Grant J. Jensen

Faculty Publications

Carboxysomes are polyhedral inclusion bodies that play a key role in autotrophic metabolism in many bacteria. Using electron cryotomography, we examined carboxysomes in their native states within intact cells of three chemolithoautotrophic bacteria. We found that carboxysomes generally cluster into distinct groups within the cytoplasm, often in the immediate vicinity of polyphosphate granules, and a regular lattice of density frequently connects granules to nearby carboxysomes. Small granular bodies were also seen within carboxysomes. These observations suggest a functional relationship between carboxysomes and polyphosphate granules. Carboxysomes exhibited greater size, shape, and compositional variability in cells than in purified preparations. Finally, we …