A self-produced trigger for biofilm disassembly that targets exopolysaccharide.

ABSTRACT: Biofilms are structured communities of bacteria that are held together by an extracellular matrix consisting of protein and exopolysaccharide. Biofilms often have a limited lifespan, disassembling as nutrients become exhausted and waste products accumulate. D-amino acids were previously identified as a self-produced factor that mediates biofilm disassembly by causing the release of the protein component of the matrix in Bacillus subtilis. Here we report that B. subtilis produces an additional biofilm-disassembly factor, norspermidine. Dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy experiments indicated that norspermidine interacts directly and specifically with exopolysaccharide. D-amino acids and norspermidine acted together to break down existing biofilms and mutants blocked i

SUBMITTER: Kolodkin-Gal I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3526955 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature