Bacterial cell hydrophobicity is modified during the biodegradation of anionic surfactants |
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Authors: | Julian R Marchesi Graham F White William A House Nicholas J Russell |
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Institution: | School of Molecular and Medical Biosciences, Biochemistry Unit, University of Wales Cardiff, Museum Avenue, P.O. Box 911, Cardiff CF1 3US, UK; Institute of Freshwater Ecology, River Laboratory, East Stoke, Wareham, Dorset BH20 6BB, UK |
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Abstract: | Abstract A biphasic increase in surface hydrophobicity of the surfactant-biodegrading bacterium Pseudomonas C12B has been correlated with biodegradation of the primary alkyl sulphate, sodium dodecyl sulphate. Using both hydrophobic interaction chromatography and microbial adhesion to hydrocarbon to measure surface hydrophobicity, it was shown that the first phase coincides with production of the primary metabolite dodecan-1-ol. The direct addition of dodecan-1-ol to Pseudomonas C12B resulted in the instantaneous increase in surface hydrophobicity, with a subsequent decrease which coincided with dodecan-1-ol biodegradation. In contrast, incubation of Pseudomonas C12B with sodium dodecane sulphonate, a non-metabolizable surfactant analogue of SDS, or the growth-supporting carbon source sodium pyruvate did not alter the surface hydrophobicity. These data are interpreted in terms of a model in which the hydrophobic metabolite dodecan-1-ol enters the bacterial membranes, thus increasing surface hydrophobicity and that these surfactant-biodegradation-dependent changes in bacterial surface hydrophobicity are correlated with reversible attachment of the bacteria to sediment surfaces. |
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Keywords: | Surfactant Bacterial hydrophobicity Biofilms Biodegradation Pseudomonas C12B |
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