Phys.org October 27, 2021
An aquatic bacterium called Caulobacter crescentus produces an extremely powerful glue called “holdfast,” which adheres to its surrounding wet surfaces, such as pipes and fresh water. To improve holdfast adhesion in high salinity environments researchers in Canada compared Caulobacter crescentus with a marine relative called Hirschia baltica. They found both had the same genes to synthesize holdfast indicating they used the same type of glue. Hirschia baltica holdfast also appeared to perform very well in a saline environment, which is its natural environment. By manipulating the level of expression of a particular gene whose function is to slightly alter the composition and charge of the holdfast, they were able to change the properties in the two bacterial cousins. It improved the performance of Caulobacter’s holdfast in a saline environment. Holdfast is an organic glue, it comes from a non-pathogenic bacterium and it can be easily produced in very large quantities…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Graphical Abstract. Credit: IScience, VOLUME 24, ISSUE 9, 103071, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021Â