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The roles of intracellular and extracellular calcium in Bacillus subtilis biofilms.

ABSTRACT: In nature, bacteria reside in biofilms- multicellular differentiated communities held together by an extracellular matrix. This work identified a novel subpopulation-mineral-forming cells-that is essential for biofilm formation in Bacillus subtilis biofilms. This subpopulation contains an intracellular calcium-accumulating niche, in which the formation of a calcium carbonate mineral is initiated. As the biofilm colony develops, this mineral grows in a controlled manner, forming a functional macrostructure that serves the entire community. Consistently, biofilm development is prevented by the inhibition of calcium uptake. Our results provide a clear demonstration of the orchestrated production of calcite exoskeleton, critical to morphogenesis in simple prokaryotes.

SUBMITTER: Keren-Paz A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9160756 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The roles of intracellular and extracellular calcium in <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> biofilms.

Keren-Paz Alona A Maan Harsh H Karunker Iris I Olender Tsviya T Kapishnikov Sergey S Dersch Simon S Kartvelishvily Elena E Wolf Sharon G SG Gal Assaf A Graumann Peter L PL Kolodkin-Gal Ilana I

iScience 20220427 6

In nature, bacteria reside in biofilms- multicellular differentiated communities held together by an extracellular matrix. This work identified a novel subpopulation-mineral-forming cells-that is essential for biofilm formation in <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> biofilms. This subpopulation contains an intracellular calcium-accumulating niche, in which the formation of a calcium carbonate mineral is initiated. As the biofilm colony develops, this mineral grows in a controlled manner, forming a function ...[more]

PMID: 35663026

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