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Polyphosphate deficiency affects the sliding motility and biofilm formation of Mycobacterium smegmatis

Tingyu Shi1, Tiwei Fu, Jianping Xie

  • 1Institute of Modern Biopharmaceuticals, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Eco-Environment and Bio-Resource of the Three Gorges Area, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.

Current Microbiology
|September 2, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv1026 gene deficiency reduces inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) levels, impacting cell wall fatty acid composition. This affects bacterial sliding motility and biofilm formation, offering new insights into Rv1026

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) is a crucial molecule in various cellular processes.
  • The Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv1026 gene encodes a putative exopolyphosphatase involved in polyP hydrolysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the physiological role of Rv1026 in Mycobacterium smegmatis.
  • To determine the impact of polyP deficiency on bacterial phenotype and cell wall composition.

Main Methods:

  • Cloning of Rv1026 into the pMV261 plasmid.
  • Transformation of M. smegmatis with recombinant and control plasmids.
  • Analysis of polyP concentration, sliding motility, biofilm formation, and cell wall fatty acid composition using gas chromatography.

Main Results:

  • Recombinant M. smegmatis expressing Rv1026 exhibited decreased polyP levels.
  • Significant alterations in sliding motility and biofilm formation were observed in polyP-deficient M. smegmatis.
  • Changes in cell wall fatty acid composition were identified, correlating with altered motility and biofilm phenotypes.
  • Tween 80 enhanced the observed phenotypic effects.

Conclusions:

  • Polyphosphate deficiency, influenced by Rv1026 activity, affects M. smegmatis cell wall fatty acid composition.
  • Alterations in cell wall structure likely explain the reduced sliding motility and biofilm formation.
  • This study provides novel insights into the function of Rv1026 and the role of polyP in mycobacterial physiology.

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