title: Biosynthesis and function of extracellular glycans in cyanobacteria.
abstract: The cell surface of cyanobacteria is covered with glycans that confer versatility and adaptability to a multitude of environmental factors. The complex carbohydrates act as barriers against different types of stress and play a role in intra- as well as inter-species interactions. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the chemical composition, biosynthesis and biological function of exo- and lipo-polysaccharides from cyanobacteria and give an overview of sugar-binding lectins characterized from cyanobacteria. We discuss similarities with well-studied enterobacterial systems and highlight the unique features of cyanobacteria. We pay special attention to colony formation and EPS biosynthesis in the bloom-forming cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa.
authors.affiliation: University of Potsdam, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Department of Microbiology, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24/25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany. jckehr@uni-potsdam.de.
authors.forename: Jan-Christoph
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kehr
authors.affiliation: University of Potsdam, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Department of Microbiology, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24/25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany. editt@uni-potsdam.de.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dittmann