ABSTRACT
Exopolymeric substances (EPS) isolated from a pure culture of the marine bacterium Marinobacter sp. and the marine diatom Skeletonema costatum (axenic) were partially purified, chemically characterized and used as dissolved organic matter (DOM) for the production of macroaggregates. The role of organic particles such as transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP) and Coomassie stained particles (CSP) in the production of macroaggregates was experimentally assessed. Three experimental rolling tanks containing sterile medium with: (1) EPS, (2) EPS + live diatom cells and (3) EPS + killed bacteria, and three control tanks without any added EPS were used for macroaggregate production. Changes in abundance and average size of macroaggregates were monitored using image analysis, whereas TEP and CSP were enumerated microscopically. In the presence of microbial EPS, macroaggregates of a size of 23-35 mm(2) were produced. Aggregate size and abundance considerably varied with both time and source of EPS. No correlation was observed for macroaggregate size and abundance with either TEP or CSP. One-way ANOVA demonstrated significant differences in the variance of particle abundance and size in tanks having only EPS or EPS in combination with live diatom cells. Our data suggest that production of macroaggregates was influenced by polymer chemistry and surface properties of colliding particles, whereas TEP and CSP concentrations were influenced by molecular weight of EPS and the presence of growing cells. Interestingly, macroaggregates were formed in the near absence of TEP and CSP, highlighting the role of other unknown processes in the transformation of DOM to particulate organic matter (POM) in aquatic environments.
Subject(s)
Bacteria/chemistry , Diatoms/chemistry , Polymers/analysis , Organic Chemicals/analysis , Particle Size , Polymers/chemistry , SolubilityABSTRACT
Four strains of marine stramenopilan protists, the thraustochytrids, were studied for their ability to produce extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs). Observations by light and scanning electron microscopy revealed the production of a matrix of EPS around groups of cells in stationary cultures. EPS in shake culture filtrates ranged from 0.3 to 1.1 g/L. EPS production, which was studied in greater detail in 2 isolates, SC-1 and CW1, increased with age of cultures, reaching a peak in the stationary phase. Anion exchange chromatography yielded a single fraction of the EPS of both species. The EPS contained 39% to 53% sugars, besides proteins, lipids, uronic acids, and sulfates. Molecular weight of the EPS produced by SC-1 was approximately 94 kDa, and that of CW1, 320 kDa. Glucose formed the major component in the EPS of both isolates-galactose, mannose, and arabinose being the other components. Cultures of both isolates survived air-drying up to a period of 96 hours, suggesting a role for EPS in preventing desiccation of cells.
Subject(s)
Eukaryota/metabolism , Extracellular Matrix Proteins/isolation & purification , Polysaccharides/isolation & purification , Animals , Carbon/metabolism , Chromatography, Ion Exchange , Eukaryota/ultrastructure , Extracellular Matrix Proteins/biosynthesis , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Molecular Weight , Polysaccharides/biosynthesis , Species SpecificitySubject(s)
Food Contamination , Organotin Compounds/analysis , Ostreidae/chemistry , Trialkyltin Compounds/analysis , Water Pollutants, Chemical/analysis , Animals , Carbon/analysis , Environmental Monitoring , India , Lipids/analysis , Organotin Compounds/metabolism , Ostreidae/metabolism , Seasons , Shellfish , Trialkyltin Compounds/metabolism , Water Pollutants, Chemical/metabolismSubject(s)
Critical Care , Intubation, Intratracheal , Respiration, Artificial , Respiratory Insufficiency/therapy , Tracheoesophageal Fistula/etiology , Adult , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Long-Term Care , Male , Radiography , Tracheoesophageal Fistula/diagnostic imaging , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/therapyABSTRACT
Hyphomonas MHS-3 (MHS-3) elaborates a diffuse capsular material, primarily composed of polysaccharide, which has been implicated to serve as the holdfast of this prosthecate marine bacterium. A purified polysaccharide (fr2ps) from this capsular material exhibits a relatively large affinity for (Ge), or more precisely for the Ge oxide surface film. In its natural habitat MHS-3 attaches to marine sediments. This suggests that molecular properties of fr2ps have evolved to render it adhesive toward mineral oxides. In order to characterize these molecular interactions, the effect of divalent cations and pH on the adsorption of fr2ps to Ge has been measured using attenuated total internal reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR/FT-IR) spectroscopy. The effect of adsorption of fr2ps on the Ge oxide film has been investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicate that divalent cations participate in binding of fr2ps to Ge oxide and that atomic size of the cation is important. Evidence for significant participation of hydrogen bonding to the oxide surface is lacking. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.
ABSTRACT
Amphora coffeaeformis cells were grown in batch cultures under continuous illumination at 18°C for 10 d. Algal cells were removed by centrifugation, lyophilized and used for the extraction of exopolysaccharides using either 0.05 M EDTA, 1 M NaOH or 1.5 M NaCl. The 1.5 M NaCl treatment removed most exopolysaccharides. Glucose (81%) was the most abundant monosaccharide in the exopolysaccharides. The chemical composition data suggest that the exopolymers were acidic sulphated polysaccharides containing high concentrations of pyruvate (22%) and uronic acids (18%). These polysaccharides may play an important role in metal complexation and protection from desiccation in A. coffeaeformis.
