Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Microbial polysaccharides--a comparison with eukaryotic polymers.

I W Sutherland1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Edinburgh University, Scotland.

Symposia of the Society for Experimental Biology
|January 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

On the true identity of Sergentomyia gemmea and description of a closely related species: Se. raynali n. sp.

Medical and veterinary entomology·2019
Same author

The role of exopolysaccharides in dual species biofilm development.

Journal of applied microbiology·2010
Same author

Samplers for evaluation and quantification of ultra-low volume space sprays.

Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association·2010
Same author

The use of phages for the removal of infectious biofilms.

Current pharmaceutical biotechnology·2008
Same author

Antagonistic interactions amongst bacteriocin-producing enteric bacteria in dual species biofilms.

Journal of applied microbiology·2002
Same author

Exopolysaccharides in biofilms, flocs and related structures.

Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research·2001

Microorganisms secrete exopolysaccharides, complex carbohydrates often similar to those in eukaryotes but with distinct microbial functions. These bacterial polysaccharides feature unique sugars and structures, differing significantly from their eukaryotic counterparts.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Polymer Science

Background:

  • Microorganisms commonly secrete exopolysaccharides (EPS).
  • EPS are primarily composed of monosaccharides, often found in non-microbial sources.
  • Bacterial EPS can contain acylations, phosphate esters, unusual, or methylated sugars, but typically lack sulfate, except in cyanobacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the composition and structure of microbial exopolysaccharides.
  • To compare microbial exopolysaccharides with those found in eukaryotic tissues.
  • To understand the distinct functions of exopolysaccharides in microorganisms versus eukaryotes.

Main Methods:

  • Chemical analysis of monosaccharide composition.
  • Structural elucidation of repeating units (disaccharides to heptasaccharides).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Comparative analysis with known eukaryotic polysaccharides.

    • Main Results:

    • Microbial exopolysaccharides exhibit diverse compositions, including unusual and methylated sugars.
    • The repeating unit sizes vary from disaccharides to heptasaccharides.
    • Some microbial polysaccharides are structurally identical or highly similar to eukaryotic polysaccharides.

    Conclusions:

    • Microbial exopolysaccharides share compositional similarities with eukaryotic polysaccharides but possess unique structural features.
    • Despite structural similarities, the functional roles of exopolysaccharides differ significantly between microorganisms and eukaryotes.
    • The study highlights the diverse nature and specialized functions of microbial exopolysaccharides.