1H-NMR analysis of water mobility in cultured phototrophic biofilms

Biofouling. 2011 Mar;27(3):327-36. doi: 10.1080/08927014.2011.565123.

Abstract

The present work reports on the first attempt to study water mobility in phototrophic biofilms, applying the (1)H-NMR relaxometry technique to closely monitored microbial communities grown in a microcosm under controlled ambient conditions. Longitudinal water proton relaxation times exhibited a bi-exponential behavior in all biofilm samples, indicating two types of water molecules with diverging dynamic properties, confined to different compartments of the biofilm. The fast-relaxing component can be attributed to water molecules tightly bound to the intracellular matrix, while the slow-relaxing component could reflect the behavior of water embedded in the biopolymer matrix, confined into matrix pores and channels. The results are discussed with respect to a possible key role of exopolysaccharides and uronic acids in water binding in phototrophic biofilms.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biofilms*
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Protons
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Protons
  • Water