Isolation and partial chemical analysis of firmly bound exopolysaccharide from adherent cells of a freshwater sediment bacterium

Cells of a freshwater sediment bacterium produced firmly bound extracellular polymers in laboratory cultures which, at the ultrastructural level, resembled those produced by natural sediment bacterial populations. Production of the exopolymers during subculture was maintained by using as a source of inoculum the population of cells which adhered to each other and to the wall of the glass culture vessel. The exopolymers were selectively released from the cells by blending and centrifugation in the presence of EDTA. Evaluation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate concentration indicated that only small amounts of intracellular and cell wall components were released from the cells during exopolymer removal. Chemical analysis of the isolated crude exopolymer material indicated that it contained protein, polysaccharide, and DNA. The treatment promoted the selective isolation of firmly bound polymers from the surface of adherent cells.