AlgX is a periplasmic protein required for alginate biosynthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Alginate, an exopolysaccharide produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, provides the bacterium with a selective advantage that makes it difficult to eradicate from the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Previous studies identified a gene, algX, within the alginate biosynthetic gene cluster on the P. aeruginosa chromosome. By probing cell fractions with anti-AlgX antibodies in a Western blot, AlgX was localized within the periplasm. Consistent with these results is the presence of a 26-amino-acid signal sequence. To examine the requirement for AlgX in alginate biosynthesis, part of algX in P. aeruginosa strain FRD1::pJLS3 was replaced with a nonpolar gentamicin resistance cassette. The resulting algXDelta::Gm mutant was verified by PCR and Western blot analysis and was phenotypically nonmucoid (non-alginate producing). The algXDelta::Gm mutant was restored to the mucoid phenotype with wild-type P. aeruginosa algX provided on a plasmid. The algXDelta::Gm mutant was found to secrete dialyzable oligouronic acids of various lengths. Mass spectroscopy and Dionex chromatography indicated that the dialyzable uronic acids are mainly mannuronic acid dimers resulting from alginate lyase (AlgL) degradation of polymannuronic acid. These studies suggest that AlgX is part of a protein scaffold that surrounds and protects newly formed polymers from AlgL degradation as they are transported within the periplasm for further modification and eventual transport out of the cell.     

Rhamnolipid stimulates uptake of hydrophobic compounds by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The biodegradation of hexadecane by five biosurfactant-producing bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa UG2, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG1, Rhodococcus erythropolis DSM 43066, R. erythropolis ATCC 19558, and strain BCG112) was determined in the presence and absence of exogenously added biosurfactants. The degradation of hexadecane by P. aeruginosa was stimulated only by the rhamnolipid biosurfactant produced by the same organism. This rhamnolipid did not stimulate the biodegradation of hexadecane by the four other strains to the same extent, nor was degradation of hexadecane by these strains stimulated by addition of their own biosurfactants. This suggests that P. aeruginosa has a mode of hexadecane uptake different from those of the other organisms. Rhamnolipid also enhanced the rate of epoxidation of the aliphatic hydrocarbon alpha,omega-tetradecadiene by a cell suspension of P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, the uptake of the hydrophobic probe 1-naphthylphenylamine by cells of P. aeruginosa was enhanced by rhamnolipid, as indicated by stopped-flow fluorescence experiments. Rhamnolipid did not stimulate the uptake rate of this probe in de-energized cells. These results indicate that an energy-dependent system is present in P. aeruginosa strain UG2 that mediates fast uptake of hydrophobic compounds in the presence of rhamnolipid.     

Pseudomonas aeruginosa protease IV degrades surfactant proteins and inhibits surfactant host defense and biophysical functions

Pulmonary surfactant has two distinct functions within the lung: reduction of surface tension at the air-liquid interface and participation in innate host defense. Both functions are dependent on surfactant-associated proteins. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is primarily responsible for respiratory dysfunction and death in cystic fibrosis patients and is also a leading pathogen in nosocomial pneumonia. P. aeruginosa secretes a number of proteases that contribute to its virulence. We hypothesized that P. aeruginosa protease IV degrades surfactant proteins and results in a reduction in pulmonary surfactant host defense and biophysical functions. Protease IV was isolated from cultured supernatant of P. aeruginosa by gel chromatography. Incubation of cell-free bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with protease IV resulted in degradation of surfactant proteins (SP)-A, -D, and -B. SPs were degraded in a time- and dose-dependent fashion by protease IV, and degradation was inhibited by the trypsin-like serine protease inhibitor Nalpha-p-tosyl-L-lysine-chloromethyl ketone (TLCK). Degradation by protease IV inhibited SP-A- and SP-D-mediated bacterial aggregation and uptake by macrophages. Surfactant treated with protease IV was unable to reduce surface tension as effectively as untreated surfactant, and this effect was inhibited by TLCK. We speculate that protease IV may be an important contributing factor to the development and propagation of acute lung injury associated with P. aeruginosa via loss of surfactant function within the lung.     

Identification of algF in the alginate biosynthetic gene cluster of Pseudomonas aeruginosa which is required for alginate acetylation.

Mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa produce a high-molecular-weight exopolysaccharide called alginate that is modified by the addition of O-acetyl groups. To better understand the acetylation process, a gene involved in alginate acetylation called algF was identified in this study. We hypothesized that a gene involved in alginate acetylation would be located within the alginate biosynthetic gene cluster at 34 min on the P. aeruginosa chromosome. To isolate algF mutants, a procedure for localized mutagenesis was developed to introduce random chemical mutations into the P. aeruginosa alginate biosynthetic operon on the chromosome. For this, a DNA fragment containing the alginate biosynthetic operon and adjacent argF gene in a gene replacement cosmid vector was utilized. The plasmid was packaged in vivo into lambda phage particles, mutagenized in vitro with hydroxylamine, transduced into Escherichia coli, and mobilized to an argF auxotroph of P. aeruginosa FRD. Arg+ recombinants coinherited the mutagenized alginate gene cluster and were screened for defects in alginate acetylation by testing for increased sensitivity to an alginate lyase produced by Klebsiella aerogenes. Alginates from recombinants which showed increased sensitivity to alginate lyase were tested for acetylation by a colorimetric assay and infrared spectroscopy. Two algF mutants that produced alginates reduced more than sixfold in acetyl groups were obtained. The acetylation defect was complemented in trans by a 3.8-kb XbaI-BamHI fragment from the alginate gene cluster when placed in the correct orientation under a trc promoter. By a merodiploid analysis, the algF gene was further mapped to a region directly upstream of algA by examining the polar effect of Tn501 insertions. By gene replacement, DNA with a Tn501 insertion directly upstream of algA was recombined with the chromosome of mucoid strain FRD1. The resulting strain, FRD1003, was nonmucoid because of the polar effect of the transposon on the downstream algA gene. By providing algA in trans under the tac promoter, FRD1003 produced nonacetylated alginate, indicating that the transposon was within or just upstream of algF. These results demonstrated that algF, a gene involved in alginate acetylation, is located directly upstream of algA.     

Cloning of genes controlling alginate biosynthesis from a mucoid cystic fibrosis isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from the sputum of cystic fibrosis patients produce copious quantities of an exopolysaccharide known as alginic acid. Since clinical isolates of the mucoid variants are unstable with respect to alginate synthesis and revert spontaneously to the more typical nonmucoid phenotype, it has been difficult to isolate individual structural gene mutants defective in alginate synthesis. The cloning of the genes controlling alginate synthesis has been facilitated by the isolation of a stable alginate-producing strain, 8830. The stable mucoid strain was mutagenized with ethyl methanesulfonate to obtain various mutants defective in alginate biosynthesis. Several nonmucoid (Alg-) mutants were isolated. A mucoid P. aeruginosa gene library was then constructed, using a cosmid cloning vector. DNA isolated from the stable mucoid strain 8830 was partially digested with the restriction endonuclease HindIII and ligated to the HindIII site of the broad host range cosmid vector, pCP13. After packaging in lambda particles, the recombinant DNA was introduced via transfection into Escherichia coli AC80. The clone bank was mated (en masse) from E. coli into various P. aeruginosa 8830 nonmucoid mutants with the help of pRK2013, which provided donor functions in trans, and tetracycline-resistant exconjugants were screened for the ability to form mucoid colonies. Three recombinant plasmids, pAD1, pAD2, and pAD3, containing DNA inserts of 20, 9.5, and 6.2 kilobases, respectively, were isolated based on their ability to restore alginate synthesis in various strain 8830 nonmucoid (Alg-) mutants. Mutants have been assigned to at least four complementation groups, based on complementation by pAD1, pAD2, or pAD3 or by none of them. Introduction of pAD1 into the spontaneous nonmucoid strain 8822, as well as into other nonmucoid laboratory strains of P. aeruginosa such as PAO and SB1, was found to slowly induce alginate synthesis. This alginate-inducing ability was found to reside on a 7.5-kilobase EcoRI fragment that complemented the alg-22 mutation of strain 8852. The pAD1 chromosomal insert which complements the alg-22 mutation was subsequently mapped at ca. 19 min of the P. aeruginosa PAO chromosome.     

Human monoclonal antibodies to Pseudomonas aeruginosa alginate that protect against infection by both mucoid and nonmucoid strains

Two fully human mAbs specific for epitopes dependent on intact carboxylate groups on the C6 carbon of the mannuronic acid components of Pseudomonas aeruginosa alginate were found to promote phagocytic killing of both mucoid and nonmucoid strains as well as protection against both types of strains in a mouse model of acute pneumonia. The specificity of the mAbs for alginate was determined by ELISA and killing assays. Some strains of P. aeruginosa did not make detectable alginate in vitro, but in vivo protection against lethal pneumonia was obtained and shown to be due to rapid induction of expression of alginate in the murine lung. No protection against strains genetically unable to make alginate was achieved. These mAbs have potential to be passive therapeutic reagents for all strains of P. aeruginosa and the results document that alginate is a target for the proper type of protective Ab even when expressed at low levels on phenotypically nonmucoid strains.     

氨溴索对粘液型铜绿假单胞菌生物膜藻酸盐作用的体外研究

目的探讨氨溴索对铜绿假单胞菌临床分离株形成的生物膜（biofilm,BF）主要成分藻酸盐的干预作用,研究其对藻酸盐合成过程中起重要作用的基因表达和合成过程中限速酶活性的影响,以及其对藻酸盐降解的影响。方法建立铜绿似单胞菌临床分离株BF体外模型,培养7d后得到成熟BF。将BF内的细菌振荡下来后,用疏酸-苯酚法检测氨溴索对藻酸盐含量的影响;RT-PCR检测藻酸盐合成过程中重要基因algD、algU、algR和mucA的mRNA表达;分光光度计检测合成过程中限速酶——GDP-甘露糖脱氢酶（guanosine diphospho-D-mannose dehydrogenase,GMD）的活性,并检测藻酸盐的降解情况。结果在氨溴索3．75mg／ml作用下,藻酸盐含量（mg／g）由86．4024±0．8588下降到59．9199±0．5803（F=66．2,P〈0．01）;其合成重要基因algD、algU、algR和mucA的mRNA的表达分别由1．2994±0．0173、1．0488±0．0457、0．9888±0．0267和0．8731±0．0336变化为1．0253±0．0265、0．9594±0．0106、0．8536±0．0179和1．0770±0．0503（F=91．9,41．1,88．4和56,9,P均〈0．05）;其合成限速酶GMD活性由0．0989±0．0055下降到0．0558±0．0016（F=121．2,P〈0．01）;藻酸盐的降解量（△mg／g）由1．4122±0．0073变化为1．4175±0．0019（F=21．81,P〉0．05）。1．875mg／ml氨溴索作用下,有同样的趋势但效应不如高浓度明显。结论氨溴索可以降低铜绿假单胞菌BF藻酸盐的含量,影响藻酸盐合成过程中重要基因algD、algU、algR和mucA的mRNA的表达,降低藻酸盐合成限速酶GMD活性,但对藻酸盐的降解无影响。     

In vitro alginate polymerization and the functional role of Alg8 in alginate production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

An enzymatic in vitro alginate polymerization assay was developed by using 14C-labeled GDP-mannuronic acid as a substrate and subcellular fractions of alginate overproducing Pseudomonas aeruginosa FRD1 as a polymerase source. The highest specific alginate polymerase activity was detected in the envelope fraction, suggesting that cytoplasmic and outer membrane proteins constitute the functional alginate polymerase complex. Accordingly, no alginate polymerase activity was detected using cytoplasmic membrane or outer membrane proteins, respectively. To determine the requirement of Alg8, which has been proposed as catalytic subunit of alginate polymerase, nonpolar isogenic alg8 knockout mutants of alginate-overproducing P. aeruginosa FRD1 and P. aeruginosa PDO300 were constructed, respectively. These mutants were deficient in alginate biosynthesis, and alginate production was restored by introducing only the alg8 gene. Surprisingly, this resulted in significant alginate overproduction of the complemented P. aeruginosa Deltaalg8 mutants compared to nonmutated strains, suggesting that Alg8 is the bottleneck in alginate biosynthesis. (1)H-NMR analysis of alginate isolated from these complemented mutants showed that the degree of acetylation increased from 4.7 to 9.3% and the guluronic acid content was reduced from 38 to 19%. Protein topology prediction indicated that Alg8 is a membrane protein. Fusion protein analysis provided evidence that Alg8 is located in the cytoplasmic membrane with a periplasmic C terminus. Subcellular fractionation suggested that the highest specific PhoA activity of Alg8-PhoA is present in the cytoplasmic membrane. A structural model of Alg8 based on the structure of SpsA from Bacillus subtilis was developed.     

Role of alginate lyase in cell detachment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The exopolysaccharide alginate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was shown to be important in determining the degree of cell detachment from an agar surface. Nonmucoid strain 8822 gave rise to 50-fold more sloughed cells than mucoid strains 8821 and 8830. Alginate anchors the bacteria to the agar surface, thereby influencing the extent of detachment. The role of the P. aeruginosa alginate lyase in the process of cell sloughing was investigated. Increased expression of the alginate lyase in mucoid strain 8830 led to alginate degradation and increased cell detachment. Similar effects were seen both when the alginate lyase was induced at the initial stage of cell inoculation and when it was induced at a later stage of growth. It appears that high-molecular-weight alginate polymers are required to efficiently retain the bacteria within the growth film. When expressed from a regulated promoter, the alginate lyase can induce enhanced sloughing of cells because of degradation of the alginate. This suggests a possible role for the lyase in the development of bacterial growth films.     

Reduction in exopolysaccharide viscosity as an aid to bacteriophage penetration through Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms

To cause an infection, bacteriophages must penetrate the alginate exopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to reach the bacterial surface. Despite a lack of intrinsic motility, phage were shown to diffuse through alginate gels at alginate concentrations up to 8% (wt/vol) and to bring about a 2-log reduction in the cell numbers in 20-day-old biofilms of P. aeruginosa. The inability of alginate to act as a more effective diffusional barrier suggests that phage may cause a reduction in the viscosity of the exopolysaccharide. Samples (n = 5) of commercial alginate and purified cystic fibrosis (CF) alginate were incubated with 2 x 10(8) purified phage per ml for 24 h at 37 degrees C. After incubation the samples and controls were subjected to rheological analysis with a Carrimed controlled stress rheometer. The viscosities of phage-treated samples were reduced by up to 40% compared to those of controls incubated in the absence of phage. The experiment was repeated by using phage concentrations of 10(10) and 10(12) phage per ml and samples taken for analysis at intervals up to 4 h. The results indicated that there was a time- and concentration-dependent reduction in viscosity of up to 40% compared to the viscosities of the controls. Commercial and purified CF alginate samples, both phage treated and untreated, were subjected to gel filtration chromatography by using Sephacryl High Resolution S-400 medium in order to obtain evidence of degradation. The results demonstrated that alginate treated with phage had a lower molecular weight than untreated alginate. The data suggest that bacteriophage migration through P. aeruginosa biofilms may be facilitated by a reduction in alginate viscosity brought about by enzymic degradation and that the source of the enzyme may be the bacterial host itself.     

Cloning of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa phosphomannose isomerase genes and their expression in alginate-negative mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The phosphomannose isomerase (pmi) gene of Escherichia coli was cloned on a broad-host-range cosmid vector and expressed in Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a low level. Plasmid pAD3, which harbors the E. coli pmi gene, contains a 6.2-kilobase-pair HindIII fragment derived from the chromosome of E. coli. Subcloning produced plasmids carrying the 1.5-kilobase-pair HindIII-HpaI subfragment of pAD3 that restored alginic acid production in a nonmucoid, alginate-negative mutant of P. aeruginosa. This fragment also complemented mannose-negative, phosphomannose isomerase-negative mutants of E. coli and showed no homology by DNA-DNA hybridization to P. aeruginosa chromosomal DNA. By using a BamHI constructed cosmid clone bank of the stable alginate producing strain 8830, we have been able to isolate a recombinant plasmid of P. aeruginosa origin that also restores alginate production in the alginate-negative mutant. This new recombinant plasmid, designated pAD4, contained a 9.9-kilobase-pair EcoRI-BamHI fragment with the ability to restore alginate synthesis in the alginate-negative P. aeruginosa. This fragment showed no homology to E. coli chromosomal DNA or to plasmid pAD3. Both mucoid and nonmucoid strains of P. aeruginosa had no detectable levels of phosphomannose isomerase activity as measured by mannose 6-phosphate-to-fructose 6-phosphate conversion. However, P. aeruginosa strains harboring the cloned pmi gene of E. coli contained measurable levels of phosphomannose isomerase activity as evidenced by examining the conversion of mannose 6-phosphate to fructose 6-phosphate.     

Isolation and Characterization of the algD gene of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola and its distribution among other Pseudomonads and related Organisms

The gene coding for GDP-mannose dehydrogenase ( algD ) was isolated from a Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola genomic library using a polymerase chain reaction-generated heterologous DNA-probe from Pseudomonas aeruginosa . A total of 2123 base pairs were sequenced (accession number AF001555) and analysed for homologies to the alginate gene cluster of P. aeruginosa . Downstream from algD an alg8 homologue was found suggesting a similar arrangement of the alginate gene cluster in P. syringae pv. phaseolicola to that in P. aeruginosa . Also, the deduced amino acid sequence of algD shows high similarity to that of P. aeruginosa (0.9) and Azotobacter vinelandii (0.88). Southern hybridization experiments revealed that algD is widely distributed among members of the Pseudomonas rRNA homology group I. Among others, sequences homologous to algD were detected in the P. syringae pathovars lachrymans , mori , morsprunorum, pisi , savastanoi, tabaci and tomato as well as in Pseudomonas amygdali . For most of the algD positive organisms synthesis of alginate has been reported by other studies. However, algD homologues were also detected for the species Pseudomonas corrugata , Pseudomonas marginalis and Pseudomonas avenae ( Acidovorax avenae ), for which alginate biosynthesis has not yet been reported.     

Binding, interiorization and degradation of cholesterol ester-labelled chylomicron-remnant particles by rat hepatocyte monolayers

1. The cholesteryl ester of isolated chylomicron-remnant particles was efficiently degraded by hepatocyte monolayers. The degradation was sensitive to metabolic inhibitors. 2. With increasing amounts of remnant cholesteryl ester the rate of uptake approached saturation and conformed to a linear double-reciprocal plot. The V(max.) was determined as 80ng of cholesteryl ester/h per mg of protein and the apparent K(m) as 1.4mug of cholesteryl ester per mg of protein. The time course for the uptake and hydrolysis suggested that binding of particles to the cell surface preceded the degradation. 3. Cholesteryl esters of native chylomicrons were degraded to a much smaller extent and their presence had only a small inhibitory effect on the degradation of chylomicron remnants. Intestinal very-low-density lipoproteins were degraded somewhat faster than chylomicrons, and caused more inhibition of remnant degradation. Rat high-density lipoproteins inhibited the hydrolysis of remnant cholesteryl ester by up to 50%, but had less influence on the amount of cholesteryl ester that was bound to the cells. Serum decreased both the uptake and hydrolysis, whereas d=1.21 infranatant had no effect. 4. The cholesteryl ester hydrolysis after the uptake by the cells was inhibited by chloroquine and by colchicine. Only 28-36% of the unhydrolysed cholesteryl ester could be released from these cells by trypsin treatment, indicating that the major portion was truly intracellular. The particles that could be released from the cell surface by trypsin and those remaining in the medium had the same triacylglycerol/cholesteryl ester ratio as the added remnant particles. Significant amounts of denser particles were thus not formed during contact with the cell surface. 5. The presence of heparin, as well as preincubation of the cells with heparin, increased the uptake of chylomicron remnants. This effect was most marked in the presence of serum. A much smaller proportion of the other serum lipoproteins was taken up, and this proportion was not increased by heparin.     

Immunochemical examination of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa glycocalyx: a monoclonal antibody which recognizes L-guluronic acid residues of alginic acid

Mice immunized with Formalin-fixed mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells developed an immune response directed, in part, towards the P. aeruginosa glycocalyx. The polyclonal mouse sera produced good immunofluorescent staining of the P. aeruginosa glycocalyx and cell surface. A library of 250 hybridoma cell lines which produced monoclonal antibodies directed against P. aeruginosa was established. Twelve clones (4.8%) produced antibody which reacted with alginate in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clone Ps 53 was chosen for further study, cloned, and an ascites tumor established. Clone Ps 53 was chosen for further study because the antibody produced demonstrated a specificity similar to that of a recently isolated heparin--rat-lung lectin which recognizes alginates of the Homma nontypable P. aeruginosa strains. The Ps 53 clone produced an immunoglobulin M which reacted with P. aeruginosa alginate and produced good immunofluorescent staining of the P. aeruginosa glycocalyx. The Ps 53 monoclonal antibody has an apparent specificity for L-guluronic residues in ELISA. Competitive binding studies with various alginates and monosaccharides suggest that the C6 carboxyl group of uronic acids are recognized by the antibody and that the antigen-binding site is fairly large and may recognize a particular sequence or epitope of alginic acid which is rich in L-guluronic acid. The Ps 53 monoclonal antibody did not react uniformily with all P. aeruginosa alginates but did react with all of the alginates of the Homma nontypable strains tested, suggesting that acetylation or various modifications found in P. aeruginosa alginates may interfere with antibody binding and define specific epitopes. The Ps 53 antibody also reacted with purified outer membrane, indicating that some alginate or L-guluronic acid is intimately associated with outer membrane.     

Construction and characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa algB mutants: role of algB in high-level production of alginate.

The algB gene, which is involved in the production of alginate in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was localized to approximately 2.2 kilobases of DNA from strain FRD by using transposon Tn501 insertion mutagenesis, subcloning, and complementation techniques. The previously reported alg-50(Ts) mutation, which confers the phenotype of temperature-sensitive alginate production, was here designated as an algB allele. A transduction-mediated gene replacement technique was used for site-directed mutagenesis to isolate and characterize algB::Tn501 mutants of P. aeruginosa FRD. Although algB::Tn501 mutants had a nonmucoid phenotype (indicating an alginate deficiency), they still produced about 1 to 5% of wild-type levels of alginate in most growth media and up to 16% in very rich media. The algB::Tn501 mutations had no apparent effect on growth rate or growth requirements. Using another gene replacement technique called excision marker rescue, we constructed a chromosomal algB deletion (delta algB) mutant of P. aeruginosa FRD. The delta algB mutant also produced low levels of alginate as did the algB::Tn501 mutants. The alginate produced by algB::Tn501 mutants resembled wild-type alginate by all criteria studied: molecular weight, acetylation, and proportion of mannuronic and guluronic acids. Thus, the algB gene product is apparently involved in the high-level production of alginate by P. aeruginosa and is not directly involved in the pathway leading to its biosynthesis. Chromosomal mapping of an algB::Tn501 insertion showed linkage to the trp-2 marker on the FRD chromosome as does the algB50(Ts) mutation. The excision marker rescue technique was also used to place the algB::Tn501 marker on the chromosome of characterized strains of P. aeruginosa PAO. The algB::Tn501 mutation mapped near 21 min on the PAO chromosome.     

Alginate acetylation influences initial surface colonization by mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa overproduce the exopolysaccharide alginate, which is substituted with O-acetyl groups. Under non-growing conditions in phosphate buffer, a mucoid clinical strain formed microcolonies on steel surfaces, while an acetylation-defective mutant was unable to form cell clusters. Enzymatic degradation of alginate by alginate lyase prevented microcolony formation of the mucoid parent strain. In a continuous-culture flow-cell system, using gluconate minimal medium, the mucoid strain with acetylated alginate formed microcolonies and grew into heterogenous biofilms, whereas the acetylation-defective mutant produced a thinner and more homogeneous biofilm. A lowered viscosity of extracellular material from the acetylation-defective mutant indicated a weakening of exopolymer interactions by loss of acetyl groups. These results suggest that acetyl substituents are necessary for the function of high-molecular-mass alginate to mediate cell aggregation into microcolonies in the early stages of biofilm development by mucoid P. aeruginosa, thereby determining the architecture of the mature biofilm.     

Mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are devoid of mannuronan C-5 epimerase

Mucoid strains of Azotobacter vinelandii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas syringae var glycinia synthesize alginate, an extracellular copolymer comprising D-mannuronosyl and L-guluronosyl moieties. Extracellular mannuronan C-5 epimerase, which converts polymannuronate to alginate, was demonstrated in supernatant fluid from cultures of A. vinelandii. However, the enzyme could not be demonstrated, using the same assay, in supernatant fluids of cultures of mucoid strains of P. aeruginosa or of P. syringae var glycinia, or in cell-free sonic extracts of P. aeruginosa. The results suggest that the pathways of alginate biosynthesis in A. vinelandii and Pseudomonas species may differ.