Surface-induced synthesis of new sulfonolipids in the gliding bacterium Cytophaga johnsonae

Many simple gliding bacteria contain significant quantities of phosphate-free, sulfur-containing lipids (sulfonolipids; N-acylamino-3-hydroxyisoheptadecane-1-sulfonic acids, or N-acyl capnines) that recently were shown to function in the ability of Cytophaga johnsonae to migrate over solid surfaces....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of microbiology 1988-02, Vol.149 (4), p.358-364
Main Authors: ABBANAT, D. R, GODCHAUX, W. III, LEADBETTER, E. R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteriology
Biological and medical sciences
Cytophaga johnsonae
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Microbiology
Motility, taxis
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Summary:Many simple gliding bacteria contain significant quantities of phosphate-free, sulfur-containing lipids (sulfonolipids; N-acylamino-3-hydroxyisoheptadecane-1-sulfonic acids, or N-acyl capnines) that recently were shown to function in the ability of Cytophaga johnsonae to migrate over solid surfaces. Reported here is the synthesis, by surface-grown Cytophaga johnsonae cells, of two additional sulfonolipids not present in cells grown in liquid media. The surface-dependent synthesis of these more polar N-acyl-aminosulfonates ceased immediately when surface-grown populations were suspended in broth. The ability of Cytophaga johnsonae to synthesize these compounds in response to a solid surface may be significant in relation to the organism's ability to migrate over such surfaces; it is one of few instances where a physical interaction of the cell surface has been shown to influence the molecular composition of a prokaryote.
ISSN:0302-8933
1432-072X
DOI:10.1007/BF00411656