E. coli and other bacteria assemble bacterial communities termed biofilms that consist of cells plus a self-produced extracellular matrix. Most bacteria exist in Nature as biofilm cohabitants, in contrast to bacteria propagated in the lab through growth in shaking flasks. Biofilms pose a challenge to the treatment of infectious diseases because biofilm bacteria exhibit reduced susceptibility to antimicrobials and host defenses. We introduced new approaches, integrating solid-state NMR with electron microscopy and biochemical methods to define the composition of the intact matrix material of different bacterial biofilms. In our NMR analysis of the E. coli extracellular matrix, we made the unanticipated discovery that the polysaccharide portion consisted of a modified form of cellulose--aminoethyl cellulose. We have identified the genetic determinants for the installation of the modification and established that the modification is required for community phenotypes. Thus, solid-state NMR analysis of the intact polysaccharide was able to identify this biologically important modification that is produced naturally in Nature and evaded detection by conventional approaches. This discovery has implications for understanding bacterial biofilms, for the generation of new cellulosic materials, and for potential integration into plants in efforts to improve the conversion of cellulose to glucose for ethanol production.

Aminoethyl cellulose in bacteria: Structure, biosynthesis, and implications

253rd National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.