Cation complexation by mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa extracellular polysaccharide

PLoS One. 2021 Sep 2;16(9):e0257026. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257026. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a prevalent cystic fibrosis (CF) lung colonizer, producing an extracellular matrix (ECM) composed predominantly of the extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) alginate. The ECM limits antimicrobial penetration and, consequently, CF sufferers are prone to chronic mucoid P. aeruginosa lung infections. Interactions between cations with elevated concentrations in the CF lung and the anionic EPS, enhance the structural rigidity of the biofilm and exacerbates virulence. In this work, two large mucoid P. aeruginosa EPS models, based on β-D-mannuronate (M) and β-D-mannuronate-α-L-guluronate systems (M-G), and encompassing thermodynamically stable acetylation configurations-a structural motif unique to mucoid P. aeruginosa-were created. Using highly accurate first principles calculations, stable coordination environments adopted by the cations have been identified and thermodynamic stability quantified. These models show the weak cross-linking capability of Na+ and Mg2+ ions relative to Ca2+ ions and indicate a preference for cation binding within M-G blocks due to the smaller torsional rearrangements needed to reveal stable binding sites. The geometry of the chelation site influences the stability of the resulting complexes more than electrostatic interactions, and the results show nuanced chemical insight into previous experimental observations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alginates / metabolism*
  • Anions / metabolism
  • Binding Sites
  • Biofilms
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cations / metabolism*
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / metabolism
  • Cystic Fibrosis / metabolism*
  • Cystic Fibrosis / microbiology
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism*
  • Hexuronic Acids / chemistry
  • Hexuronic Acids / metabolism
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Magnesium / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • Pseudomonas Infections / metabolism*
  • Pseudomonas Infections / microbiology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / metabolism*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / pathogenicity
  • Sodium / metabolism
  • Thermodynamics
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Anions
  • Cations
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Polysaccharides, Bacterial
  • guluronic acid
  • mannuronic acid
  • Sodium
  • Magnesium
  • Calcium

Grants and funding

OJH was funded by a full PhD studentship provided by the School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, covering salary and general research costs (bench fees). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.