Open AccessA novel biological function of alginate in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its mucoid mutants: stimulation of exolipase
Author(s) -
Wingender Jost,
Winkler Ulrich K.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1984.tb00187.x
Subject(s) - pseudomonas aeruginosa , mutant , azotobacter vinelandii , microbiology and biotechnology , biofilm , extracellular , chemistry , stimulation , pseudomonadaceae , pseudomonadales , biochemistry , biology , bacteria , nitrogenase , genetics , nitrogen fixation , neuroscience , gene
Treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC9027 with various commercial alginates from brown algae enhanced extracellular lipase activities in a time‐ and concentration‐dependent manner (“exolipase stimulation”). Alginate isolated from Azotobacter vinelandii and mucoid mutants of P. aeruginosa was similarly effective. Several independently isolated mucoid (alginate‐producing) mutants of P. aeruginosa showed higher spontaneous exolipase activities than the nonmucoid wild type. Alginate was chemically modified by (i) reduction of carboxyl groups (removal of charge), (ii) oxidation of pyranoid rings (destruction of tertiary structure), and (iii) reduction of reducing end groups. None of the chemical modifications resulted in total loss of the exolipase‐stimulating ability of the alginate derivatives.