the role of microbial exopolysaccharides in dessication tollerance
TRANSCRIPT
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
31
Section II
This section contains my Honours thesis which investigates the
effects that Rhizobial Exopolysaccharides have on desiccation
tolerance of Rhizobia In vitro.
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
32
Title: The effect of exopolysaccharides on the desiccation
tolerance of rhizobia
Author: Jared P Sunderland
SID: 200416455
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary........................................................................................................................... 33
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................. 34
2. Materials and Methods................................................................................................. 38
2.1. Survival of EPS mutants under desiccation stress ................................................. 38
2.2. Isolation and measurement of EPS ........................................................................ 39
2.3. Survival of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1 with EPS from S. meliloti mutants
....................................................................................................................................... 41
3. Results........................................................................................................................... 43
3.1 Desiccation tolerance of EPS mutants .................................................................... 43
3.2 Improved survival of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1 with EPS from S. meliloti
mutants.......................................................................................................................... 46
4. Discussion ..................................................................................................................... 47
Acknowledgements........................................................................................................... 51
5. References..................................................................................................................... 52
TABLE OF FIGURES
Table 1 EPS mutant strains of S. meliloti……………………………………………………...39
Table 2: Standard curve preparation for anthrone method testing of EPS concentration.41
Figure 1: Percentage survival of Sinorhizobium mutants according to type of EPS
production………………………………………………………………………………..43
Table 3: S.meliloti strains tested listed in order of decreasing survival at 8 days post
desiccation……………………………………………………………………………….45
Figure 2: Structures of succinoglycan EPS I (a) and (b) and galactoglucan EPS II of S.
meliloti……………………………………………………………………………………………..48
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
33
Summary Sinorhizobium meliloti, the rhizobial symbiont of Lucerne (Medicago sativa) is a widely
used inoculant in agricultural industry. In comparison to Rhizobium leguminosarum bv.
Trifolii, S. meliloti has much greater survival on pre-inoculated seed. In order to
determine the reason for this difference, and to develop a greater understanding of cell
protection mechanisms, the effects that the exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by these
strains have on desiccation tolerance was tested. S. meliloti mutants which produced
varying amounts and combinations of the exopolysaccharides succinoglycan (EPSI) and
galactoglucan (EPSII) were both studied for their effect on survival of rhizobia post
desiccation, and it was found that EPSII producing strains had a greater level of survival.
(EPS). To see whether this also had an effect on R. leguminosarum, both EPSI and EPSII
were extracted from broth cultures of the appropriate S. meliloti mutants (Rm1021 and
Rm9001 respectively), and applied to washed R.leguminosarum cells prior to desiccation.
The survival post desiccation was than compared with R. leguminsarum with its natural
EPS and it was found the survival improved with the addition of EPS from S. meliloti.
These results demonstrate that there is a significant relationship between the type of EPS
present in the immediate cell environment, and their desiccation tolerance. It is possible
that with further testing and development, natural EPS produced by S. meliloti may play a
biotechnological role in improving cell survival on pre-innoculated seed.
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
34
1. Introduction Rhizobial inoculants have been used in conjunction with legume crops since the end of
the 19th
century in order to ensure effective nodulation and optimise the potential for
nitrogen fixation (Deaker, 2004). The beneficial effect of these inoculants depend upon
various factors, including the ability of the inoculant strain to out-compete resident soil
bacteria, the suitability of the inoculant strain for the target crop and survival of the
bacteria throughout inoculant storage ,application and in soil.
Currently, seed inoculation is the most common form of rhizobial inoculation. This has
the benefit of being a relatively low cost procedure compared to some other inoculation
procedures. However, if the seed is not used immediately, the rhizobia are prone to
desiccation. Rhizobial species vary in their tolerance to desiccation (Mary et al. 1994)
and this effects their relative survival on the seed coat. In order to increase the survival
of the rhizobia on the seed, synthetic polymers are often used to coat the inoculated seed
to prevent desiccation. Survival of the two species of rhizobia Sinorhizobium meliloti
and Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii are particularly relevant as they are commonly
used for pre-inoculation of pasture legume seed lucerne and clover respectively.
Natural responses to desiccation include membrane modification and secretion of
exopolysaccharides (EPS) (Potts, 1994). These responses depend on the type of bacteria
and the surrounding environment. This project investigated the role of EPS in desiccation
tolerance of rhizobia. EPS accumulate at the cell wall surface and have been
demonstrated by Beveridge and Graham (1991) to be responsible for the protection of
cells among other roles such as adhesion and nutrient absorption. Roberson and Firestone
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
35
(1992) found that when Pseudomonas putida in soil was exposed to desiccating
conditions, high amounts of EPS were produced capable of holding many times their
weight of water. Earlier work by Mugnier and Jung (1985) found that xanthan gum; an
EPS produced by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris protected spray-dried rhizobia
by modulating water activity and limiting heat conduction.
Sinorhizobium meliloti produces two acidic polysaccharides. The first EPS (EPSI) is
succinoglycan. Succinoglycans are produced by many bacteria including Agrobacterium
tumefaciens, Pseudomonas spp., and Rhizobia. They consist of octasaccharide repeating
units composed of seven glucose and one galactose molecule per monomer with
succinate, pyruvate and acetate substituent’s (Stredansky et al. 1998). Low molecular
weight forms of EPSI are symbiotically active in S. meliloti where they assist in
attachment to host cells and signal growth of the infection thread (Gonzalez et al., 1996).
The second EPS (EPSII) produced by Sinorhizobium meliloti is galactoglucan.
Galactoglucans are produced mainly by the bacteria Pseudomonas and Rhizobium. They
are a class of polymers containing repeating disaccharide units of galactose with a
pyruvate substitution, joined by an alpha 1-3- linkage to a glucose molecule that may, or
may not have an acetyl substitution (Kochetkov et al. 1968). Each monomer is then
joined by a beta 1-3 linkage to the following unit (Skorupska et al. 2000). Galactoglucan
production is naturally occurring when EPSI production is blocked, or in phosphate
limiting environments (Skorupska et al. 2000). Production can also be induced through
the mutation of regulatory genes expR or mucR. Like EPSI, low molecular weight EPSII
can also induce nodulation with the host legume Medicago sativa. However, when grown
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
36
in phosphate limiting conditions, or when mucR regulatory gene is the site of mutation,
only high molecular weight forms of EPSII are produced which are not symbiotically
active (Skorupska et al. 2006). This suggests that EPSII may have a protective role. Due
to the production of EPSII under environmental stress, it is hypothesised that EPSII
producing mutants will have a greater desiccation tolerance that EPSI and EPS deficient
mutants.
Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii also produces acidic polysaccharides consisting of
repeating octasaccharide units containing glucose, galactose and glucuronic acid (Philip-
Hollingsworth et al., 1989). It is unknown what role this EPS plays in inferring
desiccation tolerance to R. leguminosarum, however, it has been demonstrated by
Breedveld et al. (1990), that biovars of R. leguminosarum are more osmotically sensitive
than S. meliloti and this may be because of differences in the production patterns of EPS.
Sequencing of the mega-plasmids of Sinorhizobium meliloti, and ongoing identification
of the genes involved in EPS biosynthesis has permitted deliberate production of a series
of mutant strains by Tn5 mutagenesis (Leigh et al., 1987, Keller et al., 1988, Long et al.,
1988, Miller et al., 1988, Zhan and Leigh, 1990, Buendia et al., 1991).
The aims of the research described in this paper are to;
i) observe the effects of EPSI and EPSII on the desiccation tolerance of EPS
mutants of Sinorhizobium meliloti, and,
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
37
ii) observe the effects of EPSI and EPSII from Sinorhizobium meliloti on the
desiccation tolerance of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1 when
compared to its natural EPS.
It is hypothesised that due to the increased production of EPSII by Sinorhizobium meliloti
when under environmental stress, that EPSII producing mutants and EPSII treated cells
of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1 will have increased desiccation tolerance when
compared to the alternative treatments.
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
38
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Survival of EPS mutants under desiccation stress Twenty EPS mutants of Sinorhizobium meliloti produced and maintained by Dr Graeme
Walker from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) were supplied to the
Sydney University Centre for Nitrogen Fixation (SUNfix) for this research project (Table
1). Cultures were grown on YMA plates at 28oC for seven days. Suspensions of cells
were prepared by washing the agar surface with 50 mL of sterile water. Desiccation
tolerance was measured by vacuum-drying cell suspensions to 0.1 Torr on a Dynavac
Freeze Dryer. Aliquots (100 µL) of the cell suspension were transferred to sterile
ampoules and vacuum-dried for 4 h. The ampoules were stored at 15 oC in an air-tight
storage container with silica crystals to prevent rehydration from atmospheric moisture.
The numbers of viable cells were counted in the initial suspensions and at 24 h and eight
days after drying. The counts post drying were done by adding 1 mL of sterile water to
each ampoule and allowing them to soak for 1 minute. The ampoules were than vortexed
for 30 seconds. The contents of the tube were then aspirated through a glass pipette 20
times before being transferred to a 10 mL vial of sterile water. Serial dilutions were then
conducted until a dilution of 710− was reached. The 10 5− , 10 6− and 710− dilutions were
then spread plated using aseptic techniques to YMA plates which were incubated at 28oC
for five days prior to plate counting.
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
39
2.2. Isolation and measurement of EPS
Strain Mutation Description
Rm1021 Wild type Sm
r, produces SG but no detectable EPSII or
active K antigen
Rm7210 Rm1021 exoY210::Tn5 Unable to produce SG
Rm7225 Rm1021 exoH225::Tn5-233 SG lacks succinyl group and is predominantly
HMW
Rm8341 Rm1021 exoZ341::Tn5 SG lacks acetyl group and is predominantly
LMW
Rm8839 Rm1021 exoZ341::Tn5
exoH225::Tn5-233 SG lacks both succinyl and acetyl modifications
Rm8822 Rm1021 exsH13::Tn5 Lacks a SG glycanase MW distribution slightly
shifted to HMW
Rm8826 Rm1021 exsH13::Tn5
exoK445::Tn5-233
Lacks both SG glycanases MW distribution
highly shifted to HMW
Rm8840
Rm1021 exoH225::Tn5-233
exoK445::Tn5
exoZ341::Tn5-Tp
SG lacks acetyl, succinyl groups and a
glycanase
Rm8831
Rm1021 exoK445::Tn5
exsH13::Tn5-132
exoH225::Tn5-233
SG lacks succinyl group and both glycanases
Rm8838
Rm1021 exoK445::Tn5-233
exsH13::Tn5
exoZ341::Tn5-Tp
SG lacks and acetyl group and both glycanases
Rm8530 Rm1021 expR+
Produces SG and EPS II (from LMW to HMW
forms)
Rm9000 Rm1021 expR+
exoY210::Tn5 Produces EPS II (from LMW to HMW forms)
Rm9023 Rm1021 mucR::Tn5 Produces SG and HMW EPS II
Rm9001 Rm1021 mucR::Tn5
exoY210::Tn5 Produces HMW EPS II
Rm8519 Rm1021 ndvB::Tn5-233 Does not produce periplasmic cyclic glucan
Rm41 Wild type Produces SG, probably EPS II and
symbiotically active K antigen
AK631 Rm41 exoB631 Produces symbiotically active K antigen (not
SG and EPS II)
102F34 Wild type Produces SG, no EPS II
LI1 102F34 ndvA::Tn5-lac Unable to transport cyclic β-(1,2) glucans to
periplasm from cytoplasm
TY7 102F34 ndvB::Tn5 Does not produce periplasmic cyclic β-(1,2)
glucan
Table 1 EPS mutant strains of S. meliloti. The EPS mutant strains of S. meliloti can be
divided into three groups based on the wild types Rm1021, Rm41 and 102F34. SG =
succinoglycan (EPS I); EPS II = galactoglucan; MW = molecular weight; HMW = high
molecular weight; LMW = low molecular weight. Rm 1021 normally makes HMW and
LMW forms of SG in a 1:1 molar ratio. LMW forms of SG and EPS II appear to be
symbiotically active but it is not clear what the roles of HMW forms are. The succinyl
modification makes SG more susceptible to glycanase cleavage whereas the acetyl
modification makes SG less susceptible. The information in this table was supplied by
Graeme Walker from MIT.
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
40
EPS was collected from the remaining water suspensions of S. meliloti mutants and
precipitated according to the methods from Aman et al.(1981) and Scott (1965). The
suspensions were centrifuged at 7500 rpm for 10 min at 4oC in a Sorvall RC2B
centrifuge. The supernatant was collected and the pellet washed with water and re-
centrifuged. The supernatants from each step were pooled and sodium sulphate added to
a final concentration of 10 mM. The acidic polysaccharide was precipitated by adding
the quaternary ammonium salt cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (cetrimide) to a final
concentration of 0.1% and mixed at 37oC overnight. The resulting precipitate was
collected by centrifugation, rinsed with deionised water, and resuspended in a solution of
10% potassium chloride. These samples were than frozen for later analysis where EPS
was measured using the anthrone method (Trevelyan and Harrison, 1950, Reeve et al.,
1997) and calculated as the picograms glucose equivalent/cell.
The anthrone reagent was prepared fresh by dissolving 1.4g anthrone reagent powder in a
solution of 500 mL conc. Sulphuric acid and 200 mL of distilled water. In order to
provide reference points, a standard curve was prepared using a standard solution of
200g/L glucose in reverse osmosis water. Concentrations used for the standard curve
from this solution contained 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 gµ (See Table 2). 0.5 mL of each of
the EPS extracts and standard curve samples were all layered on top of 2.5 mL of
anthrone solution in 25mm test tubes. The contents of the tubes were mixed using a
vortex. Non absorbent cotton wool was used to plug each tube to reduce evaporation
losses from the samples. These tubes were incubated in a boiling water bath for 10 min.
They were than transferred into ice slurry where they were cooled for 5 min, and then
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
41
stored on ice until reading. The absorbance for each sample was measured at 620nm and
recorded. A standard curve and the associated equation was generated using Microsoft
Excel™ (p=0.013), and the concentration in the samples was then calculated using this
equation.
Table 2: Standard curve preparation for anthrone method testing of EPS
concentration
Glucose ( gµ /mL) 0 20 40 60 80 100
Glucose Standard used (mL) 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Water used (mL) 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0
Total Volume (mL) 0.5
Anthrone Volume 2.5
2.3. Survival of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1 with EPS from S.
meliloti mutants
Broth cultures of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1 and S. meliloti strains Rm1021, and
Rm9001 were grown for seven days using Sucrose-Glucose Broth and acidic EPS was
collected as described in section 2.2. The broths were centrifuged and the supernatant
collected. The cell pellet was washed with sterile water and re-centrifuged and the
supernatants were pooled from each centrifugation step. Sodium sulphate and cetrimide
were added and the solutions were mixed at 37oC overnight. The precipitated EPS was
collected by centrifugation and resuspended in a solution of 10% potassium chloride.
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
42
The suspensions were dialysed for several days with 3 changes of water. EPS was then
measured using the anthrone method as described above in 2.2(Trevelyan and Harrison,
1950, Reeve et al., 1997) and the suspensions were diluted to obtain equal concentrations
of glucose equivalents. R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1 broth cultures were then grown
for seven days before being centrifuged at 7500 rpm for 10 min in a Sorvall RC2B
centrifuge. The supernatants were discarded and the pellets were resuspended in sterile
water. These suspensions were again re-centrifuged for 10 min at 7500 rpm. The pellets
were then re-suspended in 10 mL of the dialysed and diluted EPS solutions. Desiccation
tolerance was measured by vacuum-drying cell suspensions to 0.1 Torr as described in
section 2.1. Aliquots (100 µL) of the cell suspension were transferred to sterile ampoules
and vacuum-dried for 4 h. The ampoules were stored at 15 oC in a air-tight storage
container with silica crystals to prevent rehydration from atmospheric moisture. The
numbers of viable cells were counted in the initial suspensions and at 24 h and eight days
after drying as described in section 2.1.
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
43
3. Results
3.1 Desiccation tolerance of EPS mutants
The survival of EPS mutants after storage at low relative humidity and 15°C varied
significantly according to strain and storage time (P = 0.037). The percentage of viable
cells after 1 day and 8 days, in relation to initial suspension, is presented in Figure 1
according to EPS type. Table 3 presents the strains listed in a descending order of
survival over the test period, and their related EPS type. Counts of viable cells at 1 day
give an indication of survival during the drying stage, and counts at 8 days indicate
survival of dried cells during storage. The order of survival, from greatest to least, after 8
days did not follow the same order as that at 1 day suggesting that some strains were
better able to survive the storage conditions than the drying step and vice versa.
Interestingly, there was no statistical co-relation between amount of EPS produced and
desiccation tolerance with the exception of during storage between days 1-8.
Percentage of viable cells post desiccation
of Sinorhizobium mutants
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
0 5 10
Days post desiccation
Pe
rce
nta
ge
re
co
ve
ry (
%)
EPS1
EPS2
Neither EPS
Figure 1: Percentage
survival of
Sinorhizobium mutants
according to type of
EPS production.
(EPS1=Succinoglycan,
EPS2=Galactoglucan,
neither= mutant did not
specifically produce
either EPS1 or EPS2
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
44
Results were analysed using GenStat by Regression analysis in order to determine the
relationship between loss of viable cells and total EPS production. It was found that there
was a relationship between EPS production and survival from day 1 to day 8 (P=0.046),
although not from pre-desiccation to day 1 (p=0.37), or from pre-desiccation to day 8
(p=0.32). This suggests that EPS production has greater effect on survival during storage
than it does protection during initial desiccation. However, three out of the four highest
surviving strains produced less than 0.2 pg/cell of EPS, and Rm8831, which was the third
lowest survivor produced in excess of 2 pg/cell in one replicate and averaged 1.013
pg/cell over all replicates.
From Table 3, it can be seen that five of the top 7 surviving mutants are capable of EPSII
production, whereas the 13 strains with the highest death rates did not produce EPS II,
with production in these mutants consisting of predominantly EPSI, or in some strains, an
absence of EPS production. The survival of Rm7210, a mutant which lacks production of
EPSI, EPSII and K-antigen, was the highest (48%, p=0.001) over the total time period
suggesting that no EPS production may be optimal. It may be that in the absence of these
extracellular products Rm7210 was able to secrete cyclic β-glucans to protect the cell
(Deaker, 2008 Pers. Comm.), although this has not been tested for, and would require
further investigation. Comparatively, AK631 which produces symbiotically active K-
antigen had a much lower level of survival (11.3%, p=0.023), suggesting that K-antigen
production may place increased stress on the cells during and post desiccation, or that K-
antigen suppresses excretion of cyclic β-glucans.
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
45
Strain EPS Type
Rm7210 Neither
Rm41 EPSI, Probably EPSII and K antigen
Rm9001 HMW EPSII
Rm8840 Modified EPSI
Rm8530 Both EPS
Rm9023 EPSI and HMW EPSII
Rm9000 EPSII
Rm1021 EPSI
Rm8838 Modified EPSI
Rm7225 HMW EPSI
AK631 Neither EPS, only K-antigen
Rm8839 Modified EPSI
102F34 EPSI
LI1 No EPS
TY7 No EPS
Rm8822 EPSI
Rm8826 EPSI
Rm8831 EPSI
Rm8519 No EPS
Rm8341 LMW EPSI
Table 3: S.meliloti strains tested listed in order of decreasing survival at 8 days post
desiccation. Exopolysaccharide (EPS) types include succinoglycan (EPSI) and
galactoglucan (EPSII) and symbiotically active K-antigen
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
46
3.2 Improved survival of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1 with EPS
from S. meliloti mutants
Crude extracts of EPS from S. meliloti mutant strains Rm1021 and Rm9001 were
collected by centrifugation and the supernatants applied to TA1 before vacuum-drying.
The two mutants were selected as sources of EPS I (Rm1021) and EPS II (Rm9001)
based on their description (Table 1) and the fact that they were the greatest survivors for
each type of EPS (Table 3). Cells of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii TA1 had greater
survival at both the 1 day and 8 day counts when they were treated with EPS from S.
meliloti, in comparison to the natural EPS of TA1 (p=0.015). This suggests that EPSI and
EPSII may both play a protective role in protection during desiccation, as well as survival
post desiccation. After suspending TA1 in its own EPS, viability dropped rapidly in the in
the first day, with recovery being only 7.1% of cells from initial solution (p=0.03).
Survival at 8 days was only 3.2%, showing the poor tolerance of this strain to desiccation.
In contrast, the numbers of viable cells of TA1 suspended in S. meliloti EPS gave
recovery percentages at 1 day post desiccation of 23.3% and 28.6% for EPSI and EPSII
respectively. Interestingly, EPSI treated TA1 recovery at 8 days post desiccation was
21.4% (1.9% decrease 1 day post desiccation), compared to EPSII treated cells having a
recovery rate of 24.7% (3.9% decrease from 1 day post desiccation.). The difference in
survival of TA1 between EPSI and EPSII treatments was not statistically significant
(p=0.23), although both were significantly higher in desiccation tolerance than TA1 in its
own EPS (p=0.013, p=0.018 for EPS I and II respectively).
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
47
4. Discussion The relationship between EPS production in laboratory culture, and desiccation tolerance
has been studied in several papers including Bushby and Marshall, (1977a and 1977b);
Hartel and Alexander, (1986), all of which found either no relationship or an inverse
correlation between EPS production and ability to survive. The work conducted in this
experiment however, investigated the role of EPS in desiccation of cells on surfaces
where there is considerably less available water than is present in dried soil. It is possible
that EPS plays additional roles in soil by holding water and reducing osmotic stress of
cells, but when cells are exposed to air with a low relative humidity, they are subject to
desiccation. Under conditions of low relative humidity, the EPS of the cell must offer
some protection by mechanisms such as the physico-chemical properties of the polymer,
as supported by the increased survival with EPSII over EPSI in S. meliloti and of S.
meliloti EPS over R. leguminosarum EPS.
The demonstrated superiority of EPS II over EPSI in protecting desiccated cells of S.
meliloti, may be explained by their different structures. (See Figure 2) EPSII consists of
repeating disaccharide units of Galactose with a pyruvate substitution, joined by a alpha
1-3 linkage to a glucose molecule that may, or may not have a acetyl substitution (See
figure 2) (Kochetkov et al. 1968). This is then joined by a beta 1-3 linkage to the
following unit (Zevenhuizen, 1997, Skorupska et al. 2000) The alpha-1-3 and beta-1-3
linkages would result in flexible, helical molecules that may adapt readily to changes in
cell shape and pressure differences according to hygrostatic pressure of the wet, or
desiccated cells. This is supported by research conducted by Murrell (1988).
Comparatively, the beta linkages present in both EPSI and EPS from R. leguminosarum
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
48
bv. trifolii TA1, are more like cellulose fibres (Sutherland, 2001). This may reduce ability
of the EPS to shrink/swell and change shape according to cell tugor leaving open chnnels
to allow diffusion of air. The mode by which desiccated cells are protected may be the
reduction of oxygen transmission through the polymer films. It is possible, as suggested
by Gontard et al. (1996) that tight packing of polymer cotes restricts oxygen transmission
which may protect cells from the detrimental effect of unrestricted oxygen on dry cells
(which has been demonstrated by Deaker, Unpublished data.)
The view that EPS structure may be heavily influential on the survival of cells is further
demonstrated by the fact that the EPSI produced by the better surviving Rm8840 lacks
Figure 2: Structures of succinoglycan EPS I (a) and (b) and galactoglucan EPS II of S. meliloti.
(Succ=succinyl, Ac=acetate, Glc= glucose, Gal= galactose)
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
49
both succinyl and acetyl modifications. The relative protection afforded by this EPS may
be due to a reduction in the rate of water loss. It is clear that modification in chemical
structure can affect molecular physico-chemical properties as demonstrated by Hart et al.
(1999) with the removal of acetyl groups in xanthan gum increasing water binding and
thus reducing diffusion. Similarly, the difference in structures of EPSI and EPS from R.
leguminosarum may explain the variation in survival of desiccated TA1 cells. The R.
leguminosarum EPS has been deomonstrated to contain methoxy, acetyl, pyruvate acetyl,
succinyl and 3-hydroxybutyryl groups compared with acetyl, succinyl and pyruvyl
substitution groups of EPSI (Philip-Hollingsworth et al., 1989, Reuber and Walker,
1993). These different substituent’s may affect intermolecular bonding and the general
physico-chemical structures of the polymer.
It has been desmonstrated here that the lack of production of cyclic beta-glucans is
detrimental to desiccation tolerance of S. meliloti. Breedveld and Miller (1994) found that
periplasmic cyclic beta-glucans play a key role in hypoosmotic adaption of rhizobia
which counteracts the turgor pressure from the cell cytoplasm. However, it is possible
that this may not as much affect the cells desiccation tolerance, but rather the tolerance of
the cell to re-wetting procedure for counting employed in this experiment, due to the loss
of ability to withstand the extreme hydrostatic pressure experience on rehydration with
deionised water. This is something that might possibly be counteracted by increasing the
dissolved solids of the re-wetting solution to reduce hydrostatic pressure. The strains
which produced cyclic beta-glucans but were unable to secrete them also had a reduced
survival. This may be due to the reduced ability to adapt to elevated osmotic stress of the
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
50
drying process. This is further supported by the findings of Breedveld et al. (1990) who
found that S. meliloti mutants deficient in EPSI secreted cyclic beta-glucans at increasing
levels which correlated with increasing osmolarity of the media.
The findings of this research provide potential support for the biotechnological
application of natural EPS production and the use of non-native EPS for protecting
rhizobial inoculants. This may also be applied to non-rhizobial biotechnology
applications where the long term survival of desiccated bacterial cells is important.
However, further research is required in order to investigate the effects that using non-
native EPS have on the ability of rhizobia to quickly and successfully induce effective
nodulation in pre-innoculated seed. This may be of concern as EPS produced by rhizobia
are involved in Rhizobium-legume signalling at the initiation of the infection process.
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
51
Acknowledgements
I am very grateful to Dr Rosalind Deaker for supervision and support, as well as for
supplying the materials and skills required. I am also grateful to Dr Graeme Walker for
the supply of mutants for testing.
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
52
5. References
Aman, P., McNeil, M., Franzen, L-E., Darvill, A. G. and Albersheim, P. (1981)
Structural elucidation using HPLC-MS and GLC-MS of the acidic polysaccharide
secreted by Rhizobium meliloti strain 1021. Carbohydrate Research 95: 263-282.
Battisti, L., Lara, J. C., and Leigh, J. A. (1992) Specific oligosaccharide form of the
Rhizobium meliloti exopolysaccharide promotes nodule invasion in alfalfa. Proc Natl
Acad Sci USA 89: 5625-5629.
Becker, A. and Pühler, A. (1988) Production of exopolysaccharides. In The
Rhizobiaceae. Spaink, H. P., Kondorosi, A. and Hooykaas, P.J.J (eds). Dordrecht, The
Netherlands, Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 97-118.
Beveridge, T. J., and Graham, L. L. (1991) Surface layers of bacteria. Microbiol Rev 55:
684-705.
Breedveld, M. W., Zevenhuizen, L. P. T. M., and Zehnder, A. J. B. (1990) Osmotically
induced oligo- and polysaccharide synthesis by Rhizobium meliloti SU-47. J Gen
Microbiol 136: 2511-2519.
Breedveld, M. W., Zevenhuizen, L. P. T. M., and Zehnder, A. J. B. (1992) Production of
cyclic β –1, 2 glucans in R. leguminosarum. J Bacteriol 174: 6336-6342.
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
53
Buendia, A. M., Enenkel, B., Koplin, R., Niehaus, K., Arnold, W., Puhler, A. (1991) The
Rhizobium meliloti exoZ/exoB fragment of megaplasmid 2: ExoB functions as a UDP-
glucose 4-epimerase and ExoZ shows homology to NodX of Rhizobium leguminosarum
biovar viciae strain TOM. Mol Micrbiol 5: 1519-1530.
Bushby, H. V. A. and Marshall, K. C. (1977a) Water status of rhizobia in relation to their
susceptibilty to desiccation and to their protection by montmorillonite. J Gen Microbiol
99: 19-27.
Bushby, H. V. A. and Marshall, K. C. (1977b) Some factors affecting the survial of root-
nodule bacteria on desiccation. Soil Biol & Biochem 9: 143-147.
Costerton, J. W., Cheng, K-J., Geesey, G. G., Ladd, T., Nickel, J. C., Dasgupta, M., and
Marrie, T. J. (1987) Bacterial biofilms in nature and disease. Ann Rev Microbiol 41:
435-464.
Dazzo, F. B. and Brill, W. J. (1979) Bacterial polysaccharide which binds Rhizobium
trifolii to clover root hairs. J Bact 137: 1362-1373.
Gemell, L. G., Hartley, E. J. and Herridge, D. F. (2005) Point-of-sale evaluation of
preinoculated and custom-inoculated pasture legume seed. Aust J Exp Agric 45: 161-169
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
54
Glazebrook, J., and Walker, G. C. (1989) A novel exopolysaccharide can function in
place of the calcofluor-binding exopolysaccharide in nodulation of alfalfa by Rhizobium
meliloti. Cell 56: 661-672.
Gontard, N., Thibault, R., Cuq, B., and Guilbert, S. (1996) Influence of relative humidity
and film composition on oxygen and carbon dioxide permeabilities of edible films. J
Agric Food Chem 44: 1064-1069.
Gonzalez, J. E., Reuhs, B. L., and Walker, G. C. (1996) Low molecular weight EPS II of
Rhizobium meliloti allows nodule invasion in Medicago sativa. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA
93: 8636-8641.
Hart, T. D., Chamberlain, A. H. L., Lynch, J. M., Newling, B. and McDonald, P. J.
(1999) A stray field magnetic resonance study of water diffusion in bacterial
exopolysaccharides. Enz Microbiol Tech 24: 339-347.
Hartel, P. G., and Alexander, M. (1986) Role of extracellular polysaccharide production
and clays in the desiccation tolerance of cowpea bradyrhizobia. Soil Sci Soc Am J 50:
740-745.
Keller, M., Muller, P., Simon, R., and Pühler, A. (1988) Rhizobium meliloti genes for
exopolysaccharide synthesis and nodule infection located on megaplasmid 2 are actively
transcribed during symbiosis. Mol Plant-Microbe Interact 1: 267-274.
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
55
Leigh, J. A., and Lee, C. C. (1988) Characterisation of polysaccharides of Rhizobium
meliloti exo mutants that form ineffective nodules. J Bacteriol 170: 3327-3332.
Leigh, J. A., and Walker, G. C. (1994) Exopolysaccharides of Rhizobium: synthesis,
regulation, symbiotic function. Trends Genet 10: 63-67.
Leigh, J. A., Reed, J. W., Hanks, J. F., Hirsch, A. M. and Walker, G. C. (1987)
Rhizobium meliloti mutants that fail to succinylate their Calcofluor-binding
exopolysaccharide are defective in nodule invasion. Cell 51: 579-587.
Lien, L., Fellows, C. M., Copeland, L., Hawkett, B. and Gilbert, R. G. (2002) Water-
binding and oxygen permeability in poly(vinyl alcohol) films. Aust J Chem 55: 507-512
Long, S., Reed, J. W., Himawan, J., and Walker, G. C. (1988) Genetic analysis of a
cluster of genes required for the synthesis of the Calcofluor-binding exopolysaccharide of
Rhizobium meliloti. J Bacteriol 170: 4239-4248.
Martin, M., Lloret, J., Sanchez-Contreras, M., Bonilla, I., and Rivilla, R. (2000) MucR is
necessary for glactoglucan production in Sinorhizobium meliloti EFB1. The Amer
Phytopath Soc 13: 129-135.
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
56
Mary, P. Ochin, D. and Tailliez, R. (1985) Rates of drying and survival of Rhizobium
meliloti strains during storage at different relative humidities. Appl Env Microbiol 50:
207-211.
Mary, P., Dupuy, N., Dolhem-Biremon, C., Defives, C. and Tailliez, R. (1994)
Differences among Rhizobium meliloti and Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains in
tolerance to desiccation and storage at different relative humidities. Soil Biol Biochem
26: 1125-1132.
Mendrygal, K. E., and Gonzalez, J. E. (2000) Enviromental regulation of
exopolysaccharide production in Sinorhizobium meliloti. J Bacteriol 182: 599-606.
Miller, K. J., Gore, R. S. and Benesi, A. J. (1988) Phosphoglycerol substituents present
on the cyclic β –1,2- glucans of Rhizobium meliloti 1021 are derived from
phosphatidylglycerol. J Bacteriol 170: 4569-4575.
Mugnier, J. and Jung, G. (1985) Survival of bacteria and fungi in relation to water
activity and the solvent properties of water in biopolymer. Appl Env Microbiol 50: 108-
114.
Murrell, W. G. (1988) Bacterial spores: nature's ultimate survival package. In
Microbiology in Action. Murrell, W. G. and Kennedy, I. R. (eds.) Letchworth, England,
Research Studies Limited Press Ltd., pp. 311-346.
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
57
Osa-Afiana, L. O. and Alexander, M. (1982) Differences among cowpea rhizobia in
tolerance to high temperature and desiccation in soil. Appl Env Micobiol 43: 435-439.
Phillip-Hollingsworth, S., Hollingsworth, R. I. and Dazzo, F. B. (1989) Host-range
related structural features of the acidic extracellular polysaccharides of Rhizobium trifolii
and Rhizobium leguminosarum. J Biol Chem 264: 1461-1466.
Potts, M., (1994) Desiccation tolerance of prokaryotes. Microbiol Rev 58: 755-805.
Reuber, T. L. and Walker, G. C. (1993) Biosynthesis of succinoglycan, a symbiotically
important exopolysaccharide of Rhizobium meliloti. Cell 74: 269-280.
Roberson, E. B. and Firestone, M.K. (1992) Relationship between desiccation and
exopolysaccharide production in a soil Pseudomonas sp. Appl Env Microbiol 58: 1284-
1291.
Scott, J. E. (1965) Fractionation by precipitation with quaternary ammonium salts. In
Methods in Carbohydrate Chemistry: Volume V General Polysaccharides. Whistler, R.
L, BeMiller, J. N. and Wolfrom, M. L. (eds). London, Academic Press, pp38-44.
Sutherland, I. W. (2001) Biofilm exopolysaccharides: a strong and sticky framework.
Microbiol 147: 3-9.
Sunderland J (2008) 0416455
58
Tease, B. E. and Walker, R. W. (1987) Comparative composition of the sheath of the
cyanobacterium Gloethece ATCC 27152 cultured with and without combined nitogen. J
Gen Microbiol 133: 3331-3339.
Urzainqui, A., and Walker, G. C. (1992) Exogenous suppression of the symbiotic
deficiencies of Rhizobium melitoti exo mutants. J Bacteriol 174: 3403-3406.
Zhan, H., and Leigh, J. A. (1990) Two genes that regulate exopolysaccharide production
in Rhizobium meliloti. J Bacteriol 172: 5254-5259.