D-Ribose changes extracellular protein composition of E.coli Biofilms
Location
Bent Corridor, Science Center
Document Type
Poster - Open Access
Start Date
5-1-2026 12:00 PM
End Date
5-1-2026 2:00 PM
Abstract
Bacteria in the swimming, planktonic state can adhere to a surface, multiply, and form an interconnected community called biofilm. The extracellular network formed between bacterial cells, the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), provides the community with several advantages that enhance overall bacterial viability. The formation of biofilm is especially problematic in the context of the medical and agricultural sectors, where biofilm growth can curb antibacterial efficacy. Past research in our lab demonstrated the modulation of biofilm growth and composition in the presence of environmental sugars. In this study, Escherichia coli strain PHL628 was grown in the presence of D-ribose, and changes in extracellular protein concentration were observed using SDS-PAGE. The expression of the transcripts of these putative proteins was quantified using qPCR. Biofilm grown in the presence of D-ribose at both 28 and 37 °C demonstrated upregulated expression of key transcripts involved in the folding and assembly of outer membrane proteins (OMPs), which play a consequential role in the biofilm’s antibiotic resistance profile. Future work will utilize immunoblotting and confocal microscopy to confirm specific protein presence and measure other EPS components affected by D-ribose. These findings characterize the complex interplay between sugar metabolism and EPS biosynthesis, identifying specific extracellular proteins as promising targets for novel antibiofilm strategies.
Keywords:
Biochemistry, Molecular biology, Bacterial culturing, Biofilm
Recommended Citation
Hwang, Dylan and Bader, Justin, "D-Ribose changes extracellular protein composition of E.coli Biofilms" (2026). Research Symposium. 6.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/researchsymp/2026/posters/6
Major
Biochemistry
Project Mentor(s)
Lisa Ryno, Chemistry and Biochemistry
2026
D-Ribose changes extracellular protein composition of E.coli Biofilms
Bent Corridor, Science Center
Bacteria in the swimming, planktonic state can adhere to a surface, multiply, and form an interconnected community called biofilm. The extracellular network formed between bacterial cells, the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), provides the community with several advantages that enhance overall bacterial viability. The formation of biofilm is especially problematic in the context of the medical and agricultural sectors, where biofilm growth can curb antibacterial efficacy. Past research in our lab demonstrated the modulation of biofilm growth and composition in the presence of environmental sugars. In this study, Escherichia coli strain PHL628 was grown in the presence of D-ribose, and changes in extracellular protein concentration were observed using SDS-PAGE. The expression of the transcripts of these putative proteins was quantified using qPCR. Biofilm grown in the presence of D-ribose at both 28 and 37 °C demonstrated upregulated expression of key transcripts involved in the folding and assembly of outer membrane proteins (OMPs), which play a consequential role in the biofilm’s antibiotic resistance profile. Future work will utilize immunoblotting and confocal microscopy to confirm specific protein presence and measure other EPS components affected by D-ribose. These findings characterize the complex interplay between sugar metabolism and EPS biosynthesis, identifying specific extracellular proteins as promising targets for novel antibiofilm strategies.
Notes
Presenter: Dylan Hwang