Identification and characterization of a locus putatively involved in colanic acid biosynthesis in Vibrio alginolyticus ZJ-51 |
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Authors: | Xiaochun Huang Chunhua Ren Yingying Li Yiqin Deng Yiying Yang |
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Affiliation: | 1. Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institution of Oceanology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, PR China;2. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institution of Oceanology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China;3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China;4. College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, PR China |
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Abstract: | ![]() Colanic acid (CA) is a group I extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) that contributes to resistance against adverse environments in many members of the Enterobacteriaceae. In the present study, a genetic locus EPSC putatively involved in CA biosynthesis was identified in Vibrio alginolyticus ZJ-51, which undergoes colony morphology variation between translucent/smooth (ZJ-T) and opaque/rugose (ZJ-O). EPSC in ZJ-T carries 21 ORFs and resembles the CA cluster of Escherichia coli K-12. The deletion of EPSC led to decreased EPS and biofilm formation in both genetic backgrounds but no alternation of lipopolysaccharide. The loss of this locus also changed the colony morphology of ZJ-O on the 2216E plate and reduced the motility of ZJ-T. Compared with ZJ-T, ZJ-O lacks a 10-kb fragment (epsT) in EPSC containing homologs of wecA, wzx and wzy that are essential for O-antigen synthesis. However, the deletion or overexpression of epsT resulted in no change of colony morphology, biofilm formation or EPS production. This study reported at the first time a genetic locus EPSC that may be involved in colanic acid synthesis in V. alginolyticus ZJ-51, and found that it was related to EPS biosynthesis, biofilm formation, colony morphology and motility, which may shed light on the environmental adaptation of the vibrios. |
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Keywords: | Colanic acid EPS biofilm formation colony phase variation Vibrio alginolyticus |
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