Pectobacterium atrosepticum exopolysaccharides: identification, molecular structure, formation under stress and in planta conditions

Abstract

In the present study, we identified exopolysaccharides of the harmful phytopathogenic bacterium Pectobacterium atrosepticum SCRI1043 and characterized the molecular structure of these polymers. The synthesis of the target polysaccharides was shown to be induced under starvation conditions. Moreover, intensive accumulation of exopolysaccharides occurred during the colonization by bacteria of the xylem vessels of infected plants, where microorganisms formed specific 3D "multicellular" structures-bacterial emboli. Thus, the identified polymers are likely to be involved in the adaptation and virulence of bacteria of Pectobacterium genus.

Keywords: bacterial emboli; exopolysaccharides; extracellular matrix; molecular structure of polysaccharides; plant–microbe interactions.