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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 32: Physics of Cells III

BP 32.12: Talk

Friday, March 30, 2012, 12:30–12:45, H 1028

Ballistic motion of bacterial membrane proteins — •Holger Kress^1,2, Rostislav Boltyanskiy², Alexia A. Belperron³, Cecile O. Mejean², Charles W. Wolgemuth⁴, Linda K. Bockenstedt³, and Eric R. Dufresne² — ¹University of Bayreuth — ²Yale University — ³Yale University School of Medicine — ⁴University of Connecticut Health Center

The mechanical behavior of proteins in bacterial membranes is not well understood. We investigated this behavior in B. burgdorferi bacteria with functionalized microparticles and optical tweezers. We attached particles to membrane proteins and tracked the subsequent particle motion. Although B. burgdorferi have a symmetric morphology, the particles were transported ballistically with a well defined speed and stall force to a preferred end of the bacteria. Mutant B. burgdorferi which lack flagella did not show directed protein transport, but only diffusive motion. We hypothesize that the transport is enabled by the bacterial motility machinery and that it indicates a defense mechanism against immune cells [HK and RB contributed equally].