Elucidation of the mechanism of extracellular membrane vesicle production with a novel bacterium that abundantly produces vesicles and their application

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K19178
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 38:Agricultural chemistry and related fields
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: KURIHARA Tatsuo 京都大学, 化学研究所, 教授 (70243087)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-06-29 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞外膜小胞 / タンパク質輸送 / タンパク質分泌 / 表層糖鎖

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We found that the major cargo protein of extracellular membrane vesicles of a hyper-vesiculating bacterium, Shewanella vesiculosa HM13, is transported to the extracellular space by a machinery similar to the type II protein secretion system and is loaded onto the vesicles via interaction with polysaccharides at the surface of the vesicles. We also determined the structure of the major lipooligosaccharide in the membrane vesicles. Furthermore, we identified a sensor protein homolog involved in the regulation of membrane vesicle production.

Free Research Field

分子微生物科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

細菌が細胞外に分泌生産する膜小胞は、細菌間や細菌-宿主間のコミュニケーション、環境中の栄養素利用、病原性細菌の病原性発現などを担うことから、近年、大きな注目を集めている。本研究は、そのような膜小胞の生産機構の一端を明らかにした点で意義深い。また、膜小胞に任意のタンパク質を積み込むことで機能性膜小胞を作るための基盤となる知見を与えるものであり、応用面でも意義深い。