gas vesicle

Edge evidence

• gas vesicle enables cellular buoyancy RO:0002327

  Internal gas-filled vesicles lower effective density and provide buoyancy.

  • DOI:10.1038/nrmicro2834 Pfeifer describes gas vesicles as gas-filled flotation structures.
• cellular buoyancy enables water-column positioning RO:0002327

  Buoyancy allows planktonic bacteria/archaea to position in the water column.

  • DOI:10.1038/s41579-020-0413-0 Greening & Lithgow include gas vesicles among bacterial intracellular organelles.
• GvpA forms gas vesicle shell biolink:produces

  GvpA is a small hydrophobic protein that forms the hollow protein shell of the gas vesicle.

  • DOI:10.1186/s13036-024-00426-3 GvpA is the structural protein that forms the hollow protein structure of GV.
• GvpC strengthens gas vesicle shell

  GvpC is a coat protein that strengthens the gas vesicle shell.

  • DOI:10.1186/s13036-024-00426-3 GvpC has the function of strengthening the GV shell.
• hydrophobic inner shell surface prevents water condensation into lumen RO:0002212

  The hydrophobic inner surface prevents heterogeneous condensation of water into liquid, maintaining the gas compartment.

  • DOI:10.1038/s44318-024-00178-2 GVs maintain an inner gas compartment via a hydrophobic inner surface that prevents condensation of water into liquid.
• hydrostatic pressure causes gas vesicle collapse biolink:causes

  Above a critical pressure the gas vesicle irreversibly collapses.

  • DOI:10.1186/s13036-024-00426-3 When GVs are under pressure, there is a critical point at which the GV irreversibly collapses.
• GvpD inhibits gas vesicle formation RO:0002212

  GvpD has an inhibitory effect on gas vesicle formation.

  • DOI:10.1186/s13036-024-00426-3 GvpD has an inhibitory effect on GV formation.
• gas vesicle shell enables ultrasound scattering RO:0002327

  The gas-filled vesicle scatters ultrasound due to density/compressibility contrast with the surrounding medium.

  • DOI:10.1021/acssynbio.4c00283 GVs scatter US due to the difference in density and compressibility of their gaseous interior relative to surrounding aqueous medium.