title: Influence of putative exopolysaccharide genes on Pseudomonas putida KT2440 biofilm stability.
abstract: We report a study of the role of putative exopolysaccharide gene clusters in the formation and stability of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 biofilm. Two novel putative exopolysaccharide gene clusters, pea and peb, were identified, and evidence is provided that they encode products that stabilize P. putida KT2440 biofilm. The gene clusters alg and bcs, which code for proteins mediating alginate and cellulose biosynthesis, were found to play minor roles in P. putida KT2440 biofilm formation and stability under the conditions tested. A P. putida KT2440 derivative devoid of any identifiable exopolysaccharide genes was found to form biofilm with a structure similar to wild-type biofilm, but with a stability lower than that of wild-type biofilm. Based on our data, we suggest that the formation of structured P. putida KT2440 biofilm can occur in the absence of exopolysaccharides; however, exopolysaccharides play a role as structural stabilizers.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Wen-Chi
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fazli
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gjermansen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Givskov
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tolker-Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000096:biosynthesis; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D005810:Multigene Family; D009154:Mutation; D010957:Plasmids; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D002482:Cellulose