Exopolysaccharide Microchannels Direct Bacterial Motility and Organize Multicellular Behavior
SMC Affiliated Work
1
Status
Faculty
School
School of Science
Department
Biology
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-6-2016
Publication / Conference / Sponsorship
ISME Journal
Description/Abstract
The myxobacteria are a family of soil bacteria that form biofilms of complex architecture, aligned multilayered swarms or fruiting body structures that are simple or branched aggregates containing myxospores. Here, we examined the structural role of matrix exopolysaccharide (EPS) in the organization of these surface-dwelling bacterial cells. Using time-lapse light and fluorescence microscopy, as well as transmission electron microscopy and focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) electron microscopy, we found that Myxococcus xanthus cell organization in biofilms is dependent on the formation of EPS microchannels. Cells are highly organized within the three-dimensional structure of EPS microchannels that are required for cell alignment and advancement on surfaces. Mutants lacking EPS showed a lack of cell orientation and poor colony migration. Purified, cell-free EPS retains a channel-like structure, and can complement EPS- mutant motility defects. In addition, EPS provides the cooperative structure for fruiting body formation in both the simple mounds of M. xanthus and the complex, tree-like structures of Chondromyces crocatus. We furthermore investigated the possibility that EPS impacts community structure as a shared resource facilitating cooperative migration among closely related isolates of M. xanthus.
Scholarly
yes
DOI
10.1038/ismej.2016.60
Volume
10
Issue
11
First Page
2620
Last Page
2632
Disciplines
Biology
Rights
Open Access article
Original Citation
James Berleman (Biology): “Exopolysaccharide microchannels direct bacterial motility and organize multicellular behavior,” by Berleman JE*, Zemla M, Remis JP, Liu H, Davis AE, Worth AN, West Z, Zhang A, Park H, Bosneaga E, van Leer B, Tsai W, Zusman DR, Auer M., in ISME J. 2016 May 6. PMID: 27152937. https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2016.60. [Epub ahead of print]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27152937
Repository Citation
Berleman, James E.; Zemla, Marcin; Remis, Jonathan P.; Liu, Hong; Davis, Annie E.; Worth, Alexandra N.; West, Zachary; Zhang, Angela; Park, Hanwool; Bosneaga, Elena; van Leer, Brandon; Tsai, Wenting; Zusman, David R.; and Auer, Manfred. Exopolysaccharide Microchannels Direct Bacterial Motility and Organize Multicellular Behavior (2016). ISME Journal. 10 (11), 2620-2632. 10.1038/ismej.2016.60 [article]. https://digitalcommons.stmarys-ca.edu/school-science-faculty-works/8
Comments
PMID: 27152937 [Epub ahead of print]
[Note: Sasha Worth and Zach West were SMC students]