Modulation of bacterial multicellularity via spatio-specific polysaccharide secretion.

• Main Authors: Salim T Islam, Israel Vergara Alvarez, Fares Saïdi, Annick Guiseppi, Evgeny Vinogradov, Gaurav Sharma, Leon Espinosa, Castrese Morrone, Gael Brasseur, Jean-François Guillemot, Anaïs Benarouche, Jean-Luc Bridot, Gokulakrishnan Ravicoularamin, Alain Cagna, Charles Gauthier, Mitchell Singer, Henri-Pierre Fierobe, Tâm Mignot, Emilia M F Mauriello
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2020-06-01
• Series: PLoS Biology
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000728
• ISSN: 1544-9173; 1545-7885

The development of multicellularity is a key evolutionary transition allowing for differentiation of physiological functions across a cell population that confers survival benefits; among unicellular bacteria, this can lead to complex developmental behaviors and the formation of higher-order community structures. Herein, we demonstrate that in the social δ-proteobacterium Myxococcus xanthus, the secretion of a novel biosurfactant polysaccharide (BPS) is spatially modulated within communities, mediating swarm migration as well as the formation of multicellular swarm biofilms and fruiting bodies. BPS is a type IV pilus (T4P)-inhibited acidic polymer built of randomly acetylated β-linked tetrasaccharide repeats. Both BPS and exopolysaccharide (EPS) are produced by dedicated Wzx/Wzy-dependent polysaccharide-assembly pathways distinct from that responsible for spore-coat assembly. While EPS is preferentially produced at the lower-density swarm periphery, BPS production is favored in the higher-density swarm interior; this is consistent with the former being known to stimulate T4P retraction needed for community expansion and a function for the latter in promoting initial cell dispersal. Together, these data reveal the central role of secreted polysaccharides in the intricate behaviors coordinating bacterial multicellularity.