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Structure and Mechanical Properties of Bacteria Surfaces

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Generic and Specific Roles of Saccharides at Cell and Bacteria Surfaces

Part of the book series: Springer Theses ((Springer Theses))

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Abstract

In this chapter, model systems of bacteria surfaces, prepared from lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of various structural complexities, are investigated using neutron scattering, high-energy X-ray reflectometry, and grazing-incidence X-ray fluorescence (GIXF). In particular, the influence of divalent cations on the conformation of LPSs and on the mechanics of LPS membranes is studied. As motivated in Chap.1, these effects are considered crucial for the resistance of Gram-negative bacteria against cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAPs), but experimental evidence on the molecular level is still missing.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Here, 50 mM CaCl2 was used for the direct comparison to the MC simulations where a high calcium concentration was assumed. However, regarding the only small differences in structure and mechanical properties of interacting mutant LPS membrane multilayers found with 5 mM and 50 mM CaCl2 (see Sect. 6.1), much lower calcium concentrations are likely sufficient to induce the conformational changes observed here.

  2. 2.

    For X-rays, total reflection can only occur if the beam travels from a medium with lower electron density to a medium with higher electron density (see Sect. 2.2). In contrast to all commonly used solid substrate materials, the gas phase has a lower electron density than water.

  3. 3.

    The LPS Re molecules used for GIXOS experiments on the one hand and for X-ray fluorescence measurements on the other hand originate from different biological sources (from the strain F515 of E. coli. and from the strain R595 of Salmonella enterica sv. Minnesota, respectively, see Sect. 3.1.2). However, the ensuing small deviations of the electron density profile employed for X-ray fluorescence analysis have no significant influence on the data interpretation.

  4. 4.

    The number of electrons per LPS Re molecule in the headgroup slab (N = ρAd) is at the order of 1,000, while the numbers of electrons per K+ and Na+ differ only by 8. Considering the number of excess K+ ions per LPS Re molecule (N = 2.32) observed on Ca-free KCl buffer, the difference in electron density resulting from the different choice of monovalent salt can be neglected (<2%). On Ca50 KCl buffer, where there is only a very slight enrichment of monovalent ions in the headgroup slab, the effect is even weaker.

  5. 5.

    Beyond these qualitative predictions the continuum description is not employed here. Especially it should not be used for the microscopic description, as it loses its validity for the high charge densities and ion strengths at play (see Sect. 4.2). Moreover, this description does not take the z-extension of the charged saccharides and the volume occupied by the headgroups into account.

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  1. Department of Physics T37, Technical University Munich, James-Franck-Str. 1, 85748, Garching, Germany

    Emanuel Schneck

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Schneck, E. (2011). Structure and Mechanical Properties of Bacteria Surfaces. In: Generic and Specific Roles of Saccharides at Cell and Bacteria Surfaces. Springer Theses. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15450-8_6

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