ABSTRACT
Bacteria collected from rotting dahlia tubers, instead of degrading inulin to D-fructose, preferentially formed the known DFA III (beta-2.1': alpha-2',3 difructofuranose anhydride), inulobiose, higher inulo-oligosaccharides, and exoheteropolysaccharides. Owing to the morphological and Gram staining variability, the bacterial isolates designated YLW and CRM were examined to differentiate them from a reference strain Arthrobacter ureafaciens. The comparative analyses were whole DNA random amplification by Taq polymerase (RAPD-PCR protocol), culture media DFA III content in culture media, chromatographic profile of oligosaccharides formed, and exopolysaccharide fractionation/fragmentation. A comparative study in liquid shake cultures showed that the isolate YLW was faster than the reference strain in the production of DFA III when the inulin/yeast extract ratio was maintained at 10 in the medium, although a similar maximum yield was displayed with both bacteria (13-14 mg of DFA/mL cell free media from the initial 30 mg/mL of inulin load). Doubling the yeast extract input, an even faster onset of DFA III production occurred with YLW but with no further improvement in the maximum yield. Both strains further degraded the resulting DFA during the stationary growth phase. The main ability of CRM when grown on inulin was the production of exopolysaccharides, although culture condition variation also allowed DFA III production, which was accompanied by somewhat lower amounts of its reducing analog, inulobiose.
Subject(s)
Bacteria/isolation & purification , Inulin/metabolism , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Arthrobacter/isolation & purification , Bacteria/cytology , Bacteria/genetics , Base Sequence , Culture Media , DNA, Bacterial/analysis , DNA, Bacterial/chemistry , Disaccharides/analysis , Disaccharides/metabolism , Fructose/metabolism , Molecular Sequence Data , Polysaccharides, Bacterial/metabolismABSTRACT
Caffeine and related xanthines were identified as potent stimulators for the bacterial cellulose production in A. xylinum. These compounds are present in several plants whose infusions are useful as culture-medium supplements for this acetobacterium. The proposed target for these native purine-like inhibitory substances is the novel diguanyl nucleotide phosphodiesterase(s) that participate(s) in the bacterial cellulogenic complex. A better understanding of this feature of A. xylinum physiology may facilitate the preparation of bacterial cellulose pellicles, which are applied as a biotechnological tool in the treatment of skin burns and other dermal injuries.
