Selection and partial characterization of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa mono-rhamnolipid deficient mutant

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1997 Aug 15;153(2):279-85. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1997.tb12586.x.

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces rhamnolipids which are tenso-active compounds with potential industrial and environmental applications. There are two main types of rhamnolipids produced in liquid cultures, rhamnosyl-beta-hydroxydecanoyl-beta-hydroxydecanoate (mono-rhamnolipid) and rhamnosyl-rhamnosyl-beta-hydroxydecanoyl-beta-hydroxyd ecanoate (di-rhamnolipid). In this work we report the selective isolation of a rhamnolipid deficient mutant (IBT8), which does not accumulate mono-rhamnolipid while still producing di-rhamnolipid. IBT8 was selected after random mutagenesis with Tn501; yet, its mono-rhamnolipid deficiency was found associated neither with its Tn501 insertion nor with a possible alteration in the rhlABRI genes for rhamnosyl-transferase 1 synthesis. Different possibilities to explain IBT8 phenotype are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Decanoates / metabolism*
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Glycolipids / biosynthesis*
  • Hexosyltransferases / genetics
  • Mutagenesis, Insertional
  • Mutation
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / genetics
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / metabolism*
  • Rhamnose / analogs & derivatives*
  • Rhamnose / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Decanoates
  • Glycolipids
  • RhlR protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • rhamnolipid hemolysin, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • rhamnopyranosyl-3-hydroxydecanoyl-3-hydroxydecanoate
  • Hexosyltransferases
  • rhamnosyltransferase 1
  • Rhamnose