The roles of intracellular and extracellular calcium in Bacillus subtilis biofilms
Alona Keren‐Paz, Harsh Maan, Iris Karunker, Tsviya Olender, Sergey Kapishnikov, Simon Dersch, Elena Kartvelishvily, Sharon G. Wolf, Assaf Gal, Peter L. Graumann, Ilana Kolodkin‐Gal
Abstract
biofilms. This subpopulation contains an intracellular calcium-accumulating niche, in which the formation of a calcium carbonate mineral is initiated. As the biofilm colony develops, this mineral grows in a controlled manner, forming a functional macrostructure that serves the entire community. Consistently, biofilm development is prevented by the inhibition of calcium uptake. Our results provide a clear demonstration of the orchestrated production of calcite exoskeleton, critical to morphogenesis in simple prokaryotes.
Topics & Concepts
BiofilmBacillus subtilisExtracellularMulticellular organismCalciumIntracellularMicrobiologyExtracellular polymeric substanceChemistryCell biologyBacteriaBiologyBiomineralizationCalcium carbonateExtracellular matrixBiochemistryGeneGeneticsPaleontologyOrganic chemistryBacterial biofilms and quorum sensingBacteriophages and microbial interactionsBacterial Genetics and Biotechnology