This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Uhlinger, D. J. Articles by White, D. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Uhlinger, D. J. Articles by White, D. C. Agricola Articles by Uhlinger, D. J. Articles by White, D. C.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1983 January; 45(1): 64-70
Copyright © 1983, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Relationship Between Physiological Status and Formation of Extracellular Polysaccharide Glycocalyx in Pseudomonas atlantica

¹ Departments of Oceanography and Biological Science, ^2* Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306

ABSTRACT

Marine pseudomonads, such as Pseudomonas atlantica, are readily isolated from sediments. These organisms form extracellular polysaccharide polymers (glycocalyx). The factors affecting the composition and amount of glycocalyx in batch culture of these organisms were examined. The formation of glycocalyx was stimulated by the inclusion of galactose as the carbon source and by increased surface area resulting from addition of sand to the medium. The composition of the glycocalyx changed during the growth cycle, with a marked increase in the proportions and absolute amounts of uronic acids as the rate of synthesis increased. In estuarine sediments, the glycocalyx contained a carbon content at least as great as in the microbes themselves. The greatest accumulation of these polymers occurred late in the stationary phase when the physiological status of the cells, as measured by the adenylate energy charge, showed maximal stress. Maximal formation of glycocalyx possibly could be used as an estimate of the nutritional status of these microbes.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Langille, S. E., Weiner, R. M. (1998). Spatial and Temporal Deposition of Hyphomonas Strain VP-6 Capsules Involved in Biofilm Formation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64: 2906-2913 [Abstract] [Full Text]