Deciphering exopolysaccharide functional specificity via visualization of chemical motifs that mediate microbial-microenvironment interactions in soil micromodels
EMSL Project ID
60199
Abstract
Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are carbohydrate-based matrices of microbial biofilms that microbes use to adapt to their surroundings. The chemical structure of EPS, even within single species biofilms, can vary greatly: from repeating units and branching patterns to the non-carbohydrate decorations1, 2. Despite the wealth of knowledge on EPS chemistry, many unresolved questions regarding the biological implications of EPS chemical variations remain. In this proposed work, we will reveal how EPS chemistry enables microbial adaptation to different microenvironments such as specific moisture, root-biofilm and soil-biofilm interfaces, and food source proximity. We will simulate each of these microenvironments in emulated soil micromodels (ESMs), microfluidic channels that simulate the physical properties of soil. In order to map chemical features of EPS in these micromodels, we will first in-situ release oligosaccharides using specific enzymes, and then we will employ matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) to spatially analyze the released compounds.
Project Details
Start Date
2021-08-03
End Date
2023-10-01
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
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