Norspermidine is not a self-produced trigger for biofilm disassembly

Laura Hobley, Sok Ho Kim, Yukari Maezato, Susan Wyllie, Alan H. Fairlamb, Nicola R. Stanley-Wall (Lead / Corresponding author), Anthony J. Michael (Lead / Corresponding author)

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    60 Citations (Scopus)
    191 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Formation of Bacillus subtilis biofilms, consisting of cells encapsulated within an extracellular matrix of exopolysaccharide and protein, requires the polyamine spermidine. A recent study reported that (1) related polyamine norspermidine is synthesized by B. subtilis using the equivalent of the Vibrio cholerae biosynthetic pathway, (2) exogenous norspermidine at 25 µM prevents B. subtilis biofilm formation, (3) endogenous norspermidine is present in biofilms at 50-80 µM, and (4) norspermidine prevents biofilm formation by condensing biofilm exopolysaccharide. In contrast, we find that, at concentrations up to 200 µM, exogenous norspermidine promotes biofilm formation. We find that norspermidine is absent in wild-type B. subtilis biofilms at all stages, and higher concentrations of exogenous norspermidine eventually inhibit planktonic growth and biofilm formation in an exopolysaccharide-independent manner. Moreover, orthologs of the V. cholerae norspermidine biosynthetic pathway are absent from B. subtilis, confirming that norspermidine is not physiologically relevant to biofilm function in this species.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)844-854
    Number of pages11
    JournalCell
    Volume156
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 13 Feb 2014

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