Dataset Information

Poly-?-Glutamic Acids Contribute to Biofilm Formation and Plant Root Colonization in Selected Environmental Isolates of Bacillus subtilis.

ABSTRACT: Bacillus subtilis is long known to produce poly-?-glutamic acids (?-PGA) as one of the major secreted polymeric substances. In B. subtilis, the regulation of ?-PGA production and its physiological role are still unclear. B. subtilis is also capable of forming structurally complex multicellular communities, or biofilms, in which an extracellular matrix consisting of secreted proteins and polysaccharides holds individual cells together. Biofilms were shown to facilitate B. subtilis-plant interactions. In this study, we show that different environmental isolates of B. subtilis, all capable of forming biofilms, vary significantly in ?-PGA production. This is possibly due to differential regulation of ?-PGA biosynthesis genes. In many of those environmental isolates, ?-PGA seems to contribute to robustness and complex morphology of the colony biofilms, suggesting a role of ?-PGA in biofilm formation. Our evidence further shows that in selected B. subtilis strains, ?-PGA also plays a role in root colonization by the bacteria, pinpointing a possible function of ?-PGA in B. subtilis-plant interactions. Finally, we found that several pathways co-regulate both ?-PGA biosynthesis genes and genes for the biofilm matrix in B. subtilis, but in an opposing fashion. We discussed potential biological significance of that.

SUBMITTER: Yu Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5102903 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Poly-γ-Glutamic Acids Contribute to Biofilm Formation and Plant Root Colonization in Selected Environmental Isolates of Bacillus subtilis.

Yu Yiyang Y Yan Fang F Chen Yun Y Jin Christopher C Guo Jian-Hua JH Chai Yunrong Y

Frontiers in microbiology 20161110

Bacillus subtilis is long known to produce poly-γ-glutamic acids (γ-PGA) as one of the major secreted polymeric substances. In B. subtilis, the regulation of γ-PGA production and its physiological role are still unclear. B. subtilis is also capable of forming structurally complex multicellular communities, or biofilms, in which an extracellular matrix consisting of secreted proteins and polysaccharides holds individual cells together. Biofilms were shown to facilitate B. ...[more]

PMID: 27891125

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Project description:Rhizosphere colonization by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) along plant roots facilitates the ability of PGPR to promote plant growth and health. Thus, an understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the root colonization process by plant-beneficial Bacillus strains is essential for the use of these strains in agriculture. Here, we observed that an sfp gene mutant of the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Bacillus velezensis SQR9 was unable to form normal biofilm architecture, and differential protein expression was observed by proteomic analysis. A minor wall teichoic acid (WTA) biosynthetic protein, GgaA, was decreased over 4-fold in the Δsfp mutant, and impairment of the ggaA gene postponed biofilm formation and decreased cucumber root colonization capabilities. In addition, we provide evidence that the major WTA biosynthetic enzyme GtaB is involved in both biofilm formation and root colonization. The deficiency in biofilm formation of the ΔgtaB mutant may be due to an absence of UDP-glucose, which is necessary for the synthesis of biofilm matrix exopolysaccharides (EPS). These observations provide insights into the root colonization process by a plant-beneficial Bacillus strain, which will help improve its application as a biofertilizer.IMPORTANCEBacillus velezensis is a Gram-positive plant-beneficial bacterium which is widely used in agriculture. Additionally, Bacillus spp. are some of the model organisms used in the study of biofilms, and as such, the molecular networks and regulation systems of biofilm formation are well characterized. However, the molecular processes involved in root colonization by plant-beneficial Bacillus strains remain largely unknown. Here, we showed that WTAs play important roles in the plant root colonization process. The loss of the gtaB gene affects the ability of B. velezensis SQR9 to sense plant polysaccharides, which are important environmental cues that trigger biofilm formation and colonization in the rhizosphere. This knowledge provides new insights into the Bacillus root colonization process and can help improve our understanding of plant-rhizobacterium interactions.

Dataset Information

Poly-?-Glutamic Acids Contribute to Biofilm Formation and Plant Root Colonization in Selected Environmental Isolates of Bacillus subtilis.

Publications

Poly-γ-Glutamic Acids Contribute to Biofilm Formation and Plant Root Colonization in Selected Environmental Isolates of <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>.

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