Role for Rhizobium rhizogenes K84 cell envelope polysaccharides in surface interactions.

ABSTRACT: Rhizobium rhizogenes strain K84 is a commercial biocontrol agent used worldwide to control crown gall disease. The organism binds tightly to polypropylene substrate and efficiently colonizes root surfaces as complex, multilayered biofilms. A genetic screen identified two mutants in which these surface interactions were affected. One of these mutants failed to attach and form biofilms on the abiotic surface although, interestingly, it exhibited normal biofilm formation on the biological root tip surface. This mutant is disrupted in a wcbD ortholog gene, which is part of a large locus predicted to encode functions for the biosynthesis and export of a group II capsular polysaccharide (CPS). Expression of a functional copy of wcbD in the mutant background restored the ability of the bacteria t

SUBMITTER: Abarca-Grau AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3298171 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature