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Life after death: the critical role of extracellular DNA in microbial biofilms
Author(s) -
Jakubovics N.S.,
Shields R.C.,
Rajarajan N.,
Burgess J.G.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/lam.12134
Subject(s) - biofilm , extracellular , lysis , bacteria , enzyme , deoxyribonuclease , extracellular matrix , microbiology and biotechnology , dna , secretion , extracellular polymeric substance , biology , cytoplasm , biochemistry , chemistry , genetics
The death and lysis of microbial cells leads to the release of cytoplasmic contents, many of which are rapidly degraded by enzymes. However, some macromolecules survive intact and find new functions in the extracellular environment. There is now strong evidence that DNA released from cells during lysis, or sometimes by active secretion, becomes a key component of the macromolecular scaffold in many different biofilms. Enzymatic degradation of extracellular DNA can weaken the biofilm structure and release microbial cells from the surface. Many bacteria produce extracellular deoxyribonuclease ( DN ase) enzymes that are apparently tightly regulated to avoid excessive degradation of the biofilm matrix. Interfering with these control mechanisms, or adding exogenous DN ases, could prove a potent strategy for controlling biofilm growth.