Understanding Gas Vesicles and Its Scope in Biotechnological Applications

Abstract

Gas vacuoles comprise of aggregates of gas vesicles which is also known as hollow bodies, aerosomes, pseudo vacuoles and floatation bodies [1]. These vesicles are small, inert, low density and hollow gas filled proteinaceous intracellular organelles found in several microbes such as cyanobacteria, proteobacteria and archaea which imparts them with selective advantages for environmental adaptation [2]. In case of cyanobacteria, these gas vesicles facilitate buoyancy that helps in regulating positions at favourable depth for photosynthesis and for growth in aquatic environment. For haloarchaea, gas vesicle provide buoyancy so that bacteria can move towards oxygen-rich surface areas in hypersaline environments and for energy (ATP) synthesis driven by light-driven proton pump bacteriorhodopsin. In heterotrophic bacteria, gas vesicle act as light-shielding organelle against the high light intensity and can provide larger surface to volume ratio for nutrient acquisition in order to adapt to low temperature conditions [3].