The pel polysaccharide can serve a structural and protective role in the biofilm matrix of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial extracellular polysaccharides are a key constituent of the extracellular matrix material of biofilms. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a model organism for biofilm studies and produces three extracellular polysaccharides that have been implicated in biofilm development, alginate, Psl and Pel. Significant work has been conducted on the roles of alginate and Psl in biofilm development, however we know little regarding Pel. In this study, we demonstrate that Pel can serve two functions in biofilms. Using a novel assay involving optical tweezers, we demonstrate that Pel is crucial for maintaining cell-to-cell interactions in a PA14 biofilm, serving as a primary structural scaffold for the community. Deletion of pelB resulted in a severe biofilm deficiency. Interestingly, this effect is stra

SUBMITTER: Colvin KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3029257 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature