Hydrophobicity as an adhesion mechanism of benthic cyanobacteria

Abstract

The capacity of benthic cyanobacteria to adhere to solid substrates was examined in terms of their cell surface properties. By using a biphasic water-hydrocarbon test system, it was demonstrated that benthic cyanobacteria from divergent habitats were all hydrophobic, whereas all the planktonic cyanobacteria tested were hydrophilic. Divalent cations were found more efficient than monovalent cations in effecting the expression of hydrophobicity. Mechanical shearing of the cell surface, as well as chemical removal of the cell wall, demonstrated that the hydrophobicity was confined to the outer surface layers. The hydrophobic sites were distributed along the whole length of the cyanobacterial filament. Hydrophilic hormogonia of benthic cyanobacteria became hydrophobic within 48 h when grown in the light; chloramphenicol, 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)1,1 dimethylurea, or incubation in the dark prevented this transition. Hydrophobicity of Phormidium filaments was masked in late stationary phase; this effect was removed by gentle washing.