Effects of an EPS Biosynthesis Gene Cluster of WLY78 on Biofilm Formation and Nitrogen Fixation under Aerobic Conditions.

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) are of high significance in bacterial biofilm formation. However, the effects of EPS cluster(s) on biofilm formation in species are little known. In this study, we have shown that WLY78, a N-fixing bacterium, can form biofilm. EPS is the major component of the extracellular matrix. The genome of WLY78 contains two putative gene clusters (designated cluster and cluster). The cluster is composed of 12 putative genes () co-located in a 13 kb region. The cluster contains 17 putative genes () organized as an operon in a 20 kb region. Mutation analysis reveals that the -2 cluster is involved in EPS biosynthesis and biofilm formation. Disruption of the -2 cluster also leads to the enhancement of motility and change of the colony morphology. In contrast, disruption of the cluster does not affect EPS synthesis or biofilm formation. More importantly, the biofilm allowed WLY78 to fix nitrogen in aerobic conditions, suggesting that biofilm may provide a microaerobic environment for nitrogenase synthesis and activity.