Elevated level of the second messenger c-di-GMP in Comamonas testosteroni enhances biofilm formation and biofilm-based biodegradation of 3-chloroaniline

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2015 Feb;99(4):1967-76. doi: 10.1007/s00253-014-6107-7. Epub 2014 Oct 2.

Abstract

The bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is a ubiquitous second messenger that determines bacterial lifestyle between the planktonic and biofilm modes of life. Although the role of c-di-GMP signaling in biofilm development and dispersal has been extensively studied, how c-di-GMP signaling influences environmental bioprocess activities such as biodegradation remains unexplored. To elucidate the impacts of elevating c-di-GMP level on environmental bioprocesses, we constructed a Comamonas testosteroni strain constitutively expressing a c-di-GMP synthase YedQ from Escherichia coli and examined its capability in biofilm formation and biodegradation of 3-chloroaniline (3-CA). The high c-di-GMP strain exhibited an increased binding to Congo red dye, a decreased motility, and an enhanced biofilm formation capability. In planktonic cultures, the strain with an elevated c-di-GMP concentration and the wild type could degrade 3-CA comparably well. However, under batch growth conditions with a high surface to volume ratio, an elevated c-di-GMP concentration in C. testosteroni significantly increased the contribution of biofilms in 3-CA biodegradation. In continuous submerged biofilm reactors, C. testosteroni with an elevated c-di-GMP level exhibited an enhanced 3-CA biodegradation and a decreased cell detachment rate. Taken together, this study provides a novel strategy to enhance biofilm-based biodegradation of toxic xenobiotic compounds through manipulating bacterial c-di-GMP signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aniline Compounds / metabolism*
  • Biofilms / growth & development*
  • Bioreactors / microbiology
  • Biotransformation
  • Comamonas testosteroni / genetics
  • Comamonas testosteroni / growth & development
  • Comamonas testosteroni / metabolism
  • Comamonas testosteroni / physiology*
  • Cyclic GMP / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cyclic GMP / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism
  • Gene Expression
  • Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases / genetics
  • Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Second Messenger Systems

Substances

  • Aniline Compounds
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • bis(3',5')-cyclic diguanylic acid
  • 3-chloroaniline
  • Phosphorus-Oxygen Lyases
  • diguanylate cyclase
  • Cyclic GMP