A centimeter-long bacterium with DNA contained in metabolically active, membrane-bound organelles

• DOI: 10.1126/science.abb3634
• Publication Date: 2022-06-23T17:58:56Z
• Authors: Jean-Marie Volland; Silvina Gonzalez-...; Olivier Gros; Tomáš Tyml; Natalia Ivanova; Frederik Schulz; Danielle Goudeau; Nathalie H. Elisa...; Nandita Nath; Daniel Udwary; Rex R. Malmstrom; Chantal Guidi-Ron...; Susanne Bolte-Kluge; Karen M. Davies; Maïtena R. Jean; Jean-Louis Mansot; Nigel J. Mouncey; Esther R. Angert; Tanja Woyke; Shailesh V. Date
• Keywords: Organelle; Compartmentalization (fire protection); Bacterial genome size; Genome size; genomic DNA

Cells of most bacterial species are around 2 micrometers in length, with some the largest specimens reaching 750 micrometers. Using fluorescence, x-ray, and electron microscopy conjunction genome sequencing, we characterized Candidatus (Ca.) Thiomargarita magnifica, a bacterium that has an average cell length greater than 9000 is visible to naked eye. These cells grow orders magnitude over theoretical limits for size, display unprecedented polyploidy more half million copies very large genome, undergo dimorphic life cycle asymmetric segregation chromosomes into daughter cells. features, along compartmentalization genomic material ribosomes translationally active organelles bound by bioenergetic membranes, indicate gain complexity lineage challenge traditional concepts