Pulcherrimin formation controls growth arrest of the <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> biofilm.

ABSTRACT: Biofilm formation by Bacillus subtilis is a communal process that culminates in the formation of architecturally complex multicellular communities. Here we reveal that the transition of the biofilm into a nonexpanding phase constitutes a distinct step in the process of biofilm development. Using genetic analysis we show that B. subtilis strains lacking the ability to synthesize pulcherriminic acid form biofilms that sustain the expansion phase, thereby linking pulcherriminic acid to growth arrest. However, production of pulcherriminic acid is not sufficient to block expansion of the biofilm. It needs to be secreted into the extracellular environment where it chelates Fe³⁺ from the growth medium in a nonenzymatic reaction. Utilizing mathematical modeling and a serie

SUBMITTER: Arnaouteli S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6613138 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature