title: Glycerol metabolism promotes biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes persistent infections in the airways of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Airway sputum contains various host-derived nutrients that can be utilized by P. aeruginosa, including phosphotidylcholine, a major component of host cell membranes. Phosphotidylcholine can be degraded by P. aeruginosa to glycerol and fatty acids to increase the availability of glycerol in the CF lung. In this study, we explored the role that glycerol metabolism plays in biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa. We report that glycerol metabolism promotes biofilm formation by both a chronic CF isolate (FRD1) and a wound isolate (PAO1) of P. aeruginosa. Moreover, loss of the GlpR regulator, which represses the expression of genes involved in glycerol metabolism, enhances biofilm formation in FRD1 through the upregulation of Pel polysaccharide. Taken together, our results suggest that glycerol metabolism may be a key factor that contributes to P. aeruginosa persistence by promoting biofilm formation.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pediatric Dentistry, 1919 7th Avenue South, Room SDB 801, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scoffield
authors.affiliation: b Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Mercer University, School of Medicine, Macon, GA 31207, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silo-Suh
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D005990:Glycerol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D002794:Choline; D005990:Glycerol
keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; biofilms; glycerol; glycérol