The biofilm matrix scaffold of Pseudomonas species contains non-canonically base paired extracellular DNA and RNA
Seviour, T. W.; Winnerdy, F. R.; Lan Li, W.; Xiangyan, S.; Mugunthan, S.; Castaig, R.; Adav, S. S.; Kohli, G. S.; Shewan, H. M.; Stokes, J.; Rice, S. A.; Phan, A.-T.; Kjelleberg, S.
Show abstract
While extracellular DNA (eDNA) is recognized as a critical biofilm matrix component, it is not understood how it contributes to biofilm function. Here we isolate eDNA from Pseudomonas biofilms using ionic liquids, and discover that its key biophysical signatures, i.e. fluid viscoelasticity, nucleic acid conformation, and temperature and pH dependencies of gel to solution transitions, are maintained. Solid-state analysis of isolated eDNA, as a proxy for eDNA structure in biofilms, revealed non-canonical Hoogsteen base pairs, triads or tetrads involving guanine and thymine or uracil. These were less abundant in chromosomal DNA and undetected as eDNA underwent gel-sol transition. Purine-rich RNA was present in the eDNA network, which potentially enables eDNA to be the main cross-linking exopolymer in the matrix through non-canonical nucleobase interactions. Our study suggests that Pseudomonas assemble extracellular DNA and RNA into a network with viscoelastic properties, which underpin their persistence and spreading, and may aid the development of more effective controls for biofilm-associated infections.
Matching journals
The top 6 journals account for 50% of the predicted probability mass.
Similar papers in this journal
- Adhesive interactions within microbial consortia can be differentiated at the single-cell level through expansion microscopy 93%
- A polyyne toxin produced by an antagonistic bacterium blinds and lyses a green microalga 93%
- Architecture of cell-cell junctions in situ reveals a mechanism for bacterial biofilm inhibition 93%
Similar papers in this journal
Similar papers in this journal
- Exploring Cryptococcus neoformans capsule structure and assembly with a hydroxylamine-armed fluorescent probe 93%
- Nucleoid-Associated Proteins Undergo Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation with DNA into Multiphasic Condensates Resembling Bacterial Nucleoids 93%
- The impact of RNA chemical probing reagents on RNA binding proteins 92%
Similar papers in this journal
- Vibrio cholerae motility in aquatic and mucus-mimicking environments 92%
- Loosenin-like proteins from Phanerochaete carnosa impact both cellulose and chitin fiber networks 92%
- Thermophilic carboxylesterases from hydrothermal vents of the volcanic island of Ischia active on synthetic and biobased polymers and mycotoxins 92%
Similar papers in this journal
- Human Saliva Modifies Growth, Biofilm Architecture and Competitive Behaviors of Oral Streptococci 93%
- Inhibition of Multiple Staphylococcal Growth States by a Small Molecule that Disrupts Membrane Fluidity and Voltage 92%
- PQS-Induced Outer Membrane Vesicles Enhance Biofilm Dispersion in Pseudomonas aeruginosa 92%
"Similar papers" are the closest papers from that journal in the model's embedding space. They show what the match is built on, but the ranking comes mostly from a classifier over the whole training set, not from these examples alone.