Acetobacter cellulosic biofilms search for new modulators of cellulogenesis and native membrane treatments

Since natural substances like pseudoxanthins exert a positive effect on the cellulogenic ability of Acetobacter xylinum when producing cellulosic pellicles suitable for skin burn therapy, new defined and complex modulators were sought. Ca2+ and Mg2+ (4 mM) were strongly stimulatory. Na+ had no effect and K+ was inhibitory. Ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (0.12 g/L) ensured the same nitrogen supply as the same concentration of yeast extract as measured by cellomembrane dry wt./yield albeit higher yeast extract supplies produced thicker membranes. Corn steep liquor (CSL) was also progressively beneficial from 0.125 to 0.5 mL/L, and this yield could be further improved by the combination of CSL with a tea infusion (source of caffeine). Uridine (precursor for UDP-Glc, sugar donor in cellulose biosynthesis), guanine, guanosine, and its butirylated derivatives (precursors for the positive modulator of cellulose synthetase, di-cGMP) resulted in only moderate stimulation. Sodium phytate and betaine were also slightly stimulatory. The fibrilar product from a new Acetobacter isolate (Ax-M) was characterized as cellulose by comparison with the solid-state(13)C-NMR of algal cellulose. Its X-ray diffractogram was a confirmatory analysis. After incorporation of tamarind xyloglucan to previously air-dried cellulosic pellicles, diffractometry displayed only slight differences. Mercerized (5M NaOH) fresh cellulosic biofilms underwent drastic size reduction (3.5-fold), turning compact nut still flexible if maintained wet.