TY - JOUR T1 - Characterization of extracellular polymers synthesized by tropical intertidal biofilm bacteria A1 - Ortega Morales,Benjamín Otto A1 - Santiago Garcia,J.L A1 - Chan Bacab,M.J. A1 - Moppert,Xavier A1 - Miranda Tello,E A1 - Fardeau,M.L. A1 - Carrero,J.C. A1 - Bartolo Perez,P. A1 - Valadez Gonzalez,A A1 - Guezennec,Jean AD - Univ Autonoma Campeche, Dept Microbiol Ambiental & Biotecnol, Programa Corros Golfo Mexico, Campeche 24030, Mexico. AD - IFREMER, Plouzane, France. AD - Univ Mediterranee, Inst Rech Dev UR101, IFR BAIM, Marseille 09, France. AD - Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Dept Immunol, Inst Invest Biomed, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico. AD - CINVESTAV, IPN Merida, Dept Fis Aplicada, Yucatan, Mexico. AD - Ctr Invest Cient Yucatan, Dept Mat, Yucatan, Mexico. UR - https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/2530/ DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2006.03085.x KW - Tropical intertidal biofilm bacteria KW - Surfactants KW - Microbacterium sp KW - Exopolymers KW - Bacillus sp KW - Anionic N2 - Aims: This study was performed to determine the potential of tropical intertidal biofilm bacteria as a source of novel exopolymers (EPS). Methods and Results: A screening procedure was implemented to detect EPS-producing biofilm bacteria. Isolates MC3B-10 and MC6B-22, identified respectively as a Microbacterium species and Bacillus species by 16S rDNA and cellular fatty acids analyses, produced different EPS, as evidenced by colorimetric and gas chromatographic analyses. The polymer produced by isolate MC3B-10 displays significant surfactant activity, and may chelate calcium as evidenced by spectroscopic analysis. Conclusions: Polymer MC3B-10 appears to be a glycoprotein, while EPS MC6B-22 seems to be a true polysaccharide dominated by neutral sugars but with significant concentrations of uronic acids and hexosamines. EPS MC3B-10 possesses a higher surfactant activity than that of commercial surfactants, and given its anionic nature, may chelate cations thus proving useful in bioremediation. The chemical composition of polymer MC6B-22 suggests its potential biomedical application in tissue regeneration. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first report of a Microbacterium species producing EPS with surfactant properties, which expands our knowledge of the micro-organisms capable of producing these biomolecules. Furthermore, this work shows that tropical intertidal environments are a nonpreviously recognized habitat for bioprospecting EPS-producing bacteria, and that these molecules might be involved in ecological roles protecting the cells against dessication. Y1 - 2007 PB - Blackwell science JF - Journal of Applied Microbiology SN - 1364-5072 VL - 102 IS - 1 SP - 254 EP - 264 ID - 2530 ER -