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Linearly concatenated cyclobutane lipids form a dense bacterial membrane

Nature volume 419, pages 708–712 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Lipid membranes are essential to the functioning of cells, enabling the existence of concentration gradients of ions and metabolites. Microbial membrane lipids can contain three-, five-, six- and even seven-membered aliphatic rings1,2,3, but four-membered aliphatic cyclobutane rings have never been observed. Here we report the discovery of cyclobutane rings in the dominant membrane lipids of two anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria. These lipids contain up to five linearly fused cyclobutane moieties with cis ring junctions. Such ‘ladderane’ molecules are unprecedented in nature but are known as promising building blocks in optoelectronics4. The ladderane lipids occur in the membrane of the anammoxosome, the dedicated intracytoplasmic compartment where anammox catabolism takes place. They give rise to an exceptionally dense membrane, a tight barrier against diffusion. We propose that such a membrane is required to maintain concentration gradients during the exceptionally slow anammox metabolism and to protect the remainder of the cell from the toxic anammox intermediates. Our results further illustrate that microbial membrane lipid structures are far more diverse than previously recognized5,6,7.

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Figure 1: Structures of the anammox ladderane membrane lipids.
Figure 2: Model of the anammox cell and its anammoxosome membrane.
Figure 3: Microscopy of anammoxosomes.

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Acknowledgements

We thank J. G. Kuenen, H. Hiemstra, S. Schouten and W. Konings for stimulating discussions, C. Erkelens (University of Leiden) for access to the 600- and 750-MHz NMR instruments, J. A. Fuerst for cells of Gemmata obscuriglobus and Pirellula sp. and training of L.A.v.N., M. Wolters-Arts for help with electron microscopy, and K. T. van de Pas-Schoonen for help with immunofluorescence.

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Author notes

  1. Mike S. M. Jetten

    Present address: Department of Microbiology, University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Biogeochemistry and Toxicology, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), PO Box 59, 1790 AB, Den Burg, The Netherlands

    Jaap S. Sinninghe Damsté, W. Irene C. Rijpstra & Ellen C. Hopmans

  2. Department of Microbiology, University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Marc Strous & Laura A. van Niftrik

  3. University of Amsterdam, Institute of Molecular Chemistry (IMC), Nieuwe Achtergracht 129, 1018 WS, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Jan A. J. Geenevasen

  4. Department of Fossil Fuels and Environmental Geochemistry, Newcastle University, Drummond Building, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Adri C. T. van Duin

  5. Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC, Delft, The Netherlands

    Mike S. M. Jetten

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Correspondence to Jaap S. Sinninghe Damsté.

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Sinninghe Damsté, J., Strous, M., Rijpstra, W. et al. Linearly concatenated cyclobutane lipids form a dense bacterial membrane. Nature 419, 708–712 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01128

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