Archaeal biofilms: Composition of extracellular polymeric substances, exopolysaccharide synthesis and transport in Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

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Biofilms represent the common mode of life for the vast majority of microorganisms on earth. Biofilms formed by bacteria and eukaryotic microorganisms (fungi, algae) and their extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) have been intensively studied. Members of the third domain of life, Archaea, have gained special research interest due to their adaptation to extreme environments. However, there exists comparatively little information on archaeal biofilms. In the current project, Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, a thermoacidophilic, aerobic member of the Crenarchaeota, will be used to study archaeal biofilm formation and architecture, EPS composition and the biosynthesis and transport of exopolysaccharides (PS) as the major EPS components. S. acidocaldarius qualifies as a model organism, because the ability to form biofilms was demonstrated, it is easy to grow under laboratory conditions and it is genetically tractable. In the S. acidocaldarius genome a gene cluster with 11 glycosyltransferases and 8 membrane proteins was identified and initial studies with two deletion strains confirmed the predicted function of the encoded proteins in PS synthesis and transport. The aim is to combine state of the art techniques for biofilm characterisation, EPS analysis and a mutational/biochemical approach to unravel PS synthesis and transport and changes of EPS composition in response to environmental conditions. This project will provide new insights into composition and formation of archaeal biofilms as well as new extremozymes (GTs) of biotechnological interest.