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Bacteriophage-encoded depolymerases: their diversity and biotechnological applications.

Diana P Pires1, Hugo Oliveira1, Luís D R Melo1

  • 1Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal.

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
|January 16, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Bacteriophages (phages) possess depolymerase enzymes that degrade bacterial surface polymers, aiding biofilm penetration. This review identifies 160 depolymerases from 143 phages, highlighting their potential in various industries.

Keywords:
BacteriophagesBiofilmsCapsular polysaccharidesPhage depolymerases

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Bacteriophages (phages) are bacterial viruses with enzymes that degrade polymeric substances.
  • These enzymes, depolymerases, facilitate phage access to bacterial cells, especially within biofilms.
  • Phage depolymerases degrade capsular polysaccharides and extracellular polymeric substances, crucial for biofilm structure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively review and catalog depolymerases encoded by fully sequenced phages.
  • To explore the diversity of phage-encoded depolymerases and their potential applications.
  • To provide the first compilation of all known phage depolymerases.

Main Methods:

  • Bioinformatic analysis of fully sequenced phage genomes.
  • Identification and classification of putative depolymerase enzymes.
  • Literature review of characterized phage depolymerases and their functions.

Main Results:

  • Identified 160 putative depolymerases from 143 phages across 24 bacterial genera.
  • Enzymes include sialidases, levanases, xylosidases, dextranases, hyaluronidases, peptidases, and pectate/pectin lyases.
  • Phages belonged to Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, Podoviridae, and unclassified families.

Conclusions:

  • Phage depolymerases represent a diverse enzymatic repertoire with significant potential.
  • These enzymes can enhance phage efficacy against bacterial biofilms.
  • Applications span medical, chemical, and food-processing industries, underscoring their biotechnological value.