Abstract
Microorganisms vary widely in their ability to produce extracellular polymers (ECPs). The saccharide composition of ECPs (water-soluble and water-insoluble fractions) obtained from three soil Pseudomonas strains was compared to the saccharide composition of ECPs of Arthrobacter viscosus. Azotobacter indicus. Bacillus sublilus, Chromobacterium violaceum, Cryptococcus laurentii, Hansenula holstii and Mucor rouxii. The saccharide composition of the ECPs ranged from two homopolysaccharides ( B. subtilus: H. holstii) composed of 770 and 930 mg saccharides g −1 ECP organic C, respectively, to heteropolysaccharides ( Pseudomonas strains) consisting of < 30 mg saccharides g −1 ECP organic C. The saccharide composition of the water-insoluble ECPs obtained from the Pseudomonas strains was independent of the saccharides added to the growth medium as a C and energy source. Glycoproteins were the major constituents of the water-insoluble Pseudomonas ECPs ranging from 315 to 510mg protein g −1 ECP. Those ECPs contained active fractions of acid and alkaline phosphatase. invertase. urease and β-glucosidase. Electron photomicrographs revealed massive excretion of ECPs possibly functioning in colonization and protection of exoenzymes.
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