Capsule production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:5664163

Lynn, A R

Mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, associated almost exclusively with chronic respiratory infections in patients with cystic fibrosis, possess a capsule composed of alginic acid similar to one produced by Azotobacter vinelandii. Recent reports have provided evidence that the biosynthetic pathway for alginate in P. aeruginosa may differ from the pathway proposed for A. vinelandii in that synthesis in P. aeruginosa may occur by way of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway. Incorporation of isotope from (6-/sup 14/C)glucose into alginate by both P. aueroginosa and A. vinelandii was 10-fold greater than that from either (1-/sup 14/C)/sup -/ or (2-/sup 14/C)glucose, indicating preferential utilization of the bottom half of the glucose molecule for alginate biosynthesis. These data strongly suggest that the Entner-Doudoroff pathway plays a major role in alginate synthesis in both P. aeruginosa and A. vinelandii. The enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in mucoid strains of P. aeruginosa appear to be unchanged whether alignate is actively produced or not and activities do not differ significantly from nonmucoid strain PAO.

• Research Organization: Oklahoma Univ., Oklahoma City (USA). Health Sciences Center
• OSTI ID: 5664163
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALGINATES
BIOSYNTHESIS
AZOTOBACTER
ENCAPSULATION
PSEUDOMONAS
ALGINIC ACID
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
CAPSULES
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
ENZYMES
GLUCOSE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ALDEHYDES
BACTERIA
CARBOHYDRATES
COLLOIDS
CONTAINERS
DISPERSIONS
HEXOSES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
MONOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLYSACCHARIDES
SACCHARIDES
SYNTHESIS
550701* - Microbiology- Tracer Techniques