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Inclusions in Prokaryotes pp 331–341Cite as

R-bodies

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Part of the book series: Microbiology Monographs ((MICROMONO,volume 1))

Abstract

R-bodies are insoluble protein ribbons coiled in the cell into hollow cylindrical structures. They are synthesized by a few bacterial strains, including paramecia endosymbionts of the genus Caedibacter and some free-living nonsymbiotic bacteria. In C. taeniospiralis R-body synthesis is coded by plasmid pKAP, which probably evolved from a bacteriophage. In other bacteria apart from C. taeniospiralis, the synthesis of R-bodies appears to be also related to defective prophages, but cloning of the genes coding for these structures has not been reported. Caedibacter confers to the hosting paramecia the killer phenotype, a characteristic associated with the synthesis of the R-body. No physiological role has been demonstrated for R-bodies produced by nonsymbiotic bacteria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain

    Antonio Sanchez-Amat

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  1. Antonio Sanchez-Amat
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA

    Jessup M. Shively (Prof. Emeritus of Biochemistry) (Prof. Emeritus of Biochemistry)

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© 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Sanchez-Amat, A. (2006). R-bodies. In: Shively, J.M. (eds) Inclusions in Prokaryotes. Microbiology Monographs, vol 1. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-33774-1_14

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