ArticlePLoS biology2020
Modulation of bacterial multicellularity via spatio-specific polysaccharide secretion.
Article in PLoS biology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers.
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Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed.
- Mechanism of trans-envelope bacterial polysaccharide secretion in Class-3 outer-membrane polysaccharide export (OPX) protein systems.Nature communications · 2026Article
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- Glutathione Plays a Significant Role in the Growth, Oxidative Stress Response, and Sporulation in Myxococcus xanthus.Current microbiology · 2025Article
- Secretins of type-two secretion systems are necessary for exopolymeric slime secretion in cyanobacteria and myxobacteria.Nature communications · 2025Article
- Capillary interactions drive the self-organization of bacterial colonies.Nature physics · 2025Article
- Milestones in the development ofJournal of bacteriology · 2025Review
- Identification of EcpK, a bacterial tyrosine pseudokinase important for exopolysaccharide biosynthesis inJournal of bacteriology · 2025Article
- Article
- Multicellular magnetotactic bacteria are genetically heterogeneous consortia with metabolically differentiated cells.PLoS biology · 2024Article
- Article
- Unmasking of the von Willebrand A-domain surface adhesin CglB at bacterial focal adhesions mediates myxobacterial gliding motility.Science advances · 2023Article
- Mutation of self-binding sites in the promoter of the MrpC transcriptional regulator leads to asynchronousFrontiers in microbiology · 2023Article
- Article
- Bacterial Outer Membrane Polysaccharide Export (OPX) Proteins Occupy Three Structural Classes with Selective β-Barrel Porin Requirements for Polymer Secretion.Microbiology spectrum · 2022Article
- Evaluation of Azido 3-Deoxy-d-ACS omega · 2022Article
- Bacterial Glycocalyx Integrity Impacts Tolerance ofBiomolecules · 2022Article
- The differential expression of PilY1 proteins by the HsfBA phosphorelay allows twitching motility in the absence of exopolysaccharides.PLoS genetics · 2022Article
- Differential response to prey quorum signals indicates predatory specialization of myxobacteria and ability to predate Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Environmental microbiology · 2022Article
- Surveying a Swarm: Experimental Techniques To Establish and Examine Bacterial Collective Motion.Applied and environmental microbiology · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
19 authors.
Funding
Abstract
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.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.