Thickness of beta-carboxysome shell

Range 5-6 nm
Organism Cyanobacteria Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942
Reference Kaneko, Y., Danev, R., Nagayama, K., and Nakamoto, H. (2006). Intact Carboxysomes in a Cyanobacterial Cell Visualized by Hilbert Differential Contrast Transmission Electron Microscopy. 188, 805–808. abstract & p.808 left column bottom paragraphPubMed ID16385071
Method Hilbert Differential Contrast Transmission Electron Microscopy
Comments This measurement is inconsistent with previously reported values of 3-4 nm (Cannon, G. C., et al. (2001). Microcompartments in Prokaryotes: Carboxysomes and Related Polyhedra. Appl. Environ. Microbiol.) but is consistent with a two-layer-thick carboxysome shell that has been observed in the crystalographic packing of individual shell proteins like CcmK2 (Samborska, B., and Kimber, M. S. (2012). A dodecameric CcmK2 structure suggests ß-carboxysomal shell facets have a double-layered organization. Cell 20, 1353–1362.)
Entered by Avi Flamholz
ID 111304