Characterization of the response of Escherichia coli tol‐fucose in bacterial swimming motility

Abstract

L-Fucose, as a monosaccharide in nature, plays a crucial role in bacteria colonization. Escherichia coli (E. coli), as a common microorganism in environment, utilize bacterial flagellar motor to drive the rotation of flagella, which is regulated by chemotactic signal transduction signals. Yet the effect of L-fucose to bacterial motility remains unclear. The effect of L-fucose on the swimming motility of bacteria was investigated from the level of single flagellar motor to individual cell and cell population by employing a bead assay, a high-throughput 2D tracking assay and a high-throughput dark-field flicker microscopy. The results showed that the swimming motility of the bacteria cultured with L-fucose was decreased, while the tumble frequency increased. Furthermore, the behavioral alterations of bacteria affected by L-fucose were directly reveled by measuring the cell distribution of bacteria swimming near surfaces and bacterial surface adhesion, suggesting that L-fucose promotes bacterial surface aggregation and surface adhesion. The effect of L-fucose on bacterial swimming motility characterized in this study are consistent with the key role that L-fucose plays in bacterial colonization.

Systems Metabolic Engineering to Elucidate and Enhance Intestinal Metabolic Activities of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917

“…The synthesis of flagella is promoted by external stimuli, and flagella not only impart motility and chemotaxis to bacteria but also play roles in intestinal adhesion, biofilm formation, and the regulation of the immune system of eukaryotic cells. , A previous study demonstrated that fucose metabolism in E. coli reduced swimming ability and enhanced bacterial aggregation to surfaces through an unclear mechanism . Similarly, in our results, EcN metabolism of fucose resulted in high expression of flagellar synthesis genes but low expression of flagellar activation genes (Figure ).…”

“…47,48 A previous study demonstrated that fucose metabolism in E. coli reduced swimming ability and enhanced bacterial aggregation to surfaces through an unclear mechanism. 46 Similarly, in our results, EcN metabolism of fucose resulted in high expression of flagellar synthesis genes but low expression of flagellar activation genes (Figure 6). Fucose metabolism thus appears to induce EcN to synthesize more flagella and inhibits their activation, helping EcN readily bind mucins and initiate colonization.…”

“…Fucose metabolism is closely related to flagella metabolism in E. coli, and deletion of the gene that metabolizes l -fucose greatly reduces the ability of EcN to colonize the intestine . The synthesis of flagella is promoted by external stimuli, and flagella not only impart motility and chemotaxis to bacteria but also play roles in intestinal adhesion, biofilm formation, and the regulation of the immune system of eukaryotic cells. , A previous study demonstrated that fucose metabolism in E.…”

“…In addition to providing energy, fucose metabolism contributes to the intestinal colonization of EcN by increasing mucin binding and the utilization of other sugars. Fucose metabolism is closely related to flagella metabolism in E. coli, 46 and deletion of the gene that metabolizes L-fucose greatly reduces the ability of EcN to colonize the intestine. 18 The synthesis of flagella is promoted by external stimuli, and flagella not only impart motility and chemotaxis to bacteria but also play roles in intestinal adhesion, biofilm formation, and the regulation of the immune system of eukaryotic cells.…”

Structure and function of microbial α-l-fucosidases: a mini review

“…These structures are involved in a myriad of physiological processes, including immune recognition [ 3 ], development and neural functions [ 4 , 5 ] plant immunity [ 6 , 7 ] or host-microbe interactions (for a review see [ 8 ]). For example, Fuc has been implicated in bacteria colonisation by modulating chemotaxis [ 9 ], swimming motility [ 10 ], pathogenesis [ 11 ] or by acting as nutrient source for commensal or pathogenic bacteria [ 12–14 ]. In nature, Fuc can be linked to other sugar residues via various linkages in the non-reducing end through the action of fucosyltransferases [ 15 , 16 ].…”