Figure 3. L. plantarum (Lp) produces extracellular vesicles containing ribosomal and transfer RNAs (r/tRNAs).

(A) Representative transmission electronic microscopy images of extracellular vesicles purified from Lp’s supernatant. The text in red shows the diameter in nm. The scale bar indicates 200 nm. (B–D) RT-qPCR quantification of 16S rRNA, 23S rRNA, and Thr-tRNA from total bacterial cells (B), purified extracellular vesicles (C), or purified extracellular vesicles treated with RNAse (C), normalised with sterile supernatant. RNA quantity is shown as 2^{Cq(sterile supernatant)-Cq(cells)} or 2^{Cq(sterile supernatant)-Cq(extracellular vesicles)}. The dotted line shows the level of RNA detected in sterile supernatant. The graph shows the mean of two replicates and standard deviation.