Effect of O-Polysaccharide Modifications on Successful Plant Colonization by Bacteria

Abstract

O-polysaccharides of gram-negative bacteria are a highly variable component of the lipopolysaccharide molecules located at the cell wall surface and involved in microbial interaction with plant and animal cells. Activity of prophage genes often results in various non-stoichiometric modifications (methylation, acetylation, etc.) of glycans on the bacterial cell surface. The share of modified O-polysaccharides increases during the stationary growth phase and results in increased hydrophobicity of microbial surface. Bacterial cells with different hydrophobicity showed difference in attachment to plant roots. Increased cell hydrophobicity index was found to result in a significant increase in the number of adsorbed microorganisms per unit root length. Thus, acetyl transferase and methyl transferase genes of viral origin may be indirectly involved in successful colonization of plant roots by rhizosphere bacteria.