FIG 5.
Deletion of MS_2695 or overproduction of Rv2744c results in altered lipid droplet morphology. (A) Transmission electron micrographs of M. smegmatis mc2155, M. smegmatis ΔMS_2695, and M. smegmatis ΔMS_2695 strains expressing Rv2744c after 1 week's growth in Sauton's medium. White arrowheads, small LDs; black arrowheads, large LDs. Note that the panel displaying M. smegmatis ΔMS_2695 is from a longitudinal cross-section to allow better visualization of the smaller LDs produced. (B) Stacked bar graph depicting size distribution of LDs in each strain. Graphed values are representative of the percentage of LDs of each diameter category among the total lipid droplets measured per strain. (C) The average number of lipid droplets observed per bacillus was determined, revealing that the ΔMS_2695 strain contained nearly double the number of LDs per bacillus compared to the wild-type and complemented counterparts. (D) The triacylglycerol (TAG) content present in LDs isolated from each strain was quantified relative to a standard curve and normalized to the total protein concentration of isolated LDs. The total protein concentrations of isolated LDs were similar between strains.