Quantitative three-dimensional nondestructive imaging of whole anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria

Peng, M.-W.; Guan, Y.; Liu, J.-H.; Chen, L.; Wang, H.; Xie, Z.-Z.; Li, H.-Y.; Chen, Y.-P.; Liu, P.; Yan, P.; Guo, J.-S.; Liu, G.; Shen, Y.; Fang, F.

doi:10.1101/709188

bioRxiv · 10.1101/709188

Quantitative three-dimensional nondestructive imaging of whole anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria

Peng, M.-W.·Guan, Y.·Liu, J.-H.·Chen, L.·Wang, H.·Xie, Z.-Z.·Li, H.-Y.·Chen, Y.-P.·Liu, P.·Yan, P.·Guo, J.-S.·Liu, G.·Shen, Y.·Fang, F.

View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria play a key role in the global nitrogen cycle and the treatment of nitrogenous wastewater. These functions are closely related to the unique biophysical structure of anammox bacteria. However, the research on the biophysical ultrastructure of intact anammox bacteria is lacking. In this study, in-situ three-dimensional nondestructive ultrastructure imaging of whole anammox cell was performed using synchrotron soft X-ray nano-computed tomography and the total variation-based simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (TV-SART). Statistical and quantitative analyses of the ultrastructures of intact anammox bacteria were performed. The linear absorption coefficient values of the ultrastructures of anammox bacteria were calculated and the asymmetric structure of the anammox bacteria was quantified. On this basis, the shape adaptation of the anammox bacteria responses to Fe2+ were explored, and the underlying regulation mechanism of Fe2+ on anammox bacteria was explored. Furthermore, a promising method to study the biophysical properties of cells in different environments and engineering processes was proposed.\n\nGraphical Abstract\n\nO_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=96 SRC=\"FIGDIR/small/709188v1_ufig1.gif\" ALT=\"Figure 1\">\nView larger version (23K):\norg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1994e5eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1e80137org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@a7f418org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@8a77e5_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG Statement of SignificanceAnaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria play key role in global nitrogen cycle, and this physiological function depends on the unique morphology of anammox bacteria. In this study, synchrotron soft-X ray imaging technique coupled with simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique with total variation (SART-TV) algorithm were performed to quantify the three-dimensional ultrastructure of the whole anammox bacteria for the first time. On this basis, the shape adaptation and mechanism of the anammox bacteria responses to Fe2+ were explored and a promising method for detecting the physiological properties of anammox bacteria was proposed.

Source connections

Published article ↗

Explore related subjects

cell biology Preprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

Peng, M.-W., Guan, Y., Liu, J.-H., Chen, L., Wang, H., Xie, Z.-Z., Li, H.-Y., Chen, Y.-P., Liu, P., Yan, P., Guo, J.-S., Liu, G., Shen, Y., Fang, F.. 2019-07-22. Quantitative three-dimensional nondestructive imaging of whole anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria. https://doi.org/10.1101/709188

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

Sequence context and partner availability specify divergent cell fates from a single transcription factor

Transcription factors drive the gene regulatory networks that control developmental transitions, yet which of their many targets a cell uses remains unresolved. Expressing Cebp, Cebp{beta} or Cebp{delta} identically, alone or with Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and cMyc, gave four outcomes: adipocyte from fibroblasts and neural stem cells, trophectoderm from embryonic stem cells, and myeloid from B cells. Raising Cebp levels changed how many sites it reached, not which sequence it read: clustered motifs maintained somatic enhancers, while spillover onto low-copy sites created de novo enhancers carrying composites of Cebp and cell-type-restricted partners. In fibroblasts, Cebp also redistributed Oct4, Sox2 and Klf4 from early targets, blocking iPSC formation. Supplying the predicted partners rewrote the output: Spi1 redirected Cebp into parallel adipogenic and myeloid programs, via a transient PpargCD45 state using separate enhancers for each; TFAP2C abolished adipogenic conversion. Motif density and partner composites therefore assemble a factor's instructive output in the receiving cell.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2026

High-content screening identifies FDA-approved activators of mitophagy

Mitochondrial diseases are highly heterogeneous disorders caused by defects in oxidative phosphorylation, for which only limited therapeutic options are available. The elimination of dysfunctional mitochondria via mitophagy activation is an attractive strategy to treat several mitochondrial diseases, irrespective of the underlying genetic defect. To identify pharmacological activators of this pathway, we performed a high-content screening of 1,971 FDA-approved compounds using cellular reporters of TFEB nuclear translocation and mitophagy. This screening identified 294 compounds that promoted TFEB translocation, nine of which increased the number of mitolysosomes without compromising cell viability or damaging mitochondria. Among the selected compounds, Meptazinol and Ponatinib emerged as the top-ranked mitophagy inducers in fibroblasts from patients with complex I and IV deficiency, respectively, and were prioritised for further characterisation. However, they did not rescue the bioenergetic defect, suggesting that the stimulation of mitophagy per se is not sufficient to ameliorate the OXPHOS defect in mitochondrial diseases. Overall, our findings establish a scalable platform for the identification of pharmacological activators of TFEB and identify candidate compounds for therapeutic modulation of mitophagy.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Matrix Gla Protein deficiency reveals a previously unrecognized mucosal calcification in the mouse airways

Tracheal calcification is a common finding that is considered to have limited clinical significance when detected most often in elderly individuals. Despite its frequent occurrence, the cellular and molecular mechanisms at the origin of tracheal calcification remain largely unexplored. In this context, we aimed to characterize the development of tracheal calcification, and to determine the role of matrix Gla protein (MGP), a major inhibitor of ectopic calcification whose genetic or pharmacologic deficiency is associated with premature tracheal calcification in humans. We found that wild-type mice undergo an unexpected early physiologic calcification of the tracheal cartilage rings beginning around one month after birth. This calcification progresses in a dynamic rostro-caudal sequence through a process involving terminal differentiation of tracheal chondrocytes. These findings challenge the prevailing view that tracheal cartilage is a permanent hyaline cartilage and instead reveals an early and highly organized physiologic calcification process. Furthermore, our findings further identify MGP as a key regulator of calcification within the respiratory tract. Indeed, MGP deficiency not only markedly accelerates tracheal cartilage calcification through a similar pattern and mechanism but also induces a previously unrecognized calcification of the tracheal mucosa, a lesion absent in wild-type mice. These alterations could partly explain the respiratory manifestations observed in MGP-deficient patients having Keutel syndrome, which include dyspnea, cough, stridor, and recurrent infections, symptoms previously being mainly attributed to calcification of the tracheal cartilage rings.

cell biology↗