Cellulose and Cellulose Synthase in a Marine Pseudomonas Strain from Antarctica: Characterization, Adaptive Implications, and Biotechnological Potential

Antarctic microorganisms have developed extraordinary strategies for adaptation. They have also demonstrated the ability to produce various biopolymers in response to environmental stress. The demand for biopolymers is constantly increasing and is expected to grow further. Among emerging biomaterials, bacterial cellulose (BC) is generating significant interest due to its unique characteristics that distinguish it from plant-based cellulose. BC exhibits higher purity, water-holding capacity, and tensile strength compared to its plant-based counterpart. Furthermore, BC can be obtained through environmentally friendly protocols. Several bacterial strains have already been identified as cellulose producers, including Komagataeibacter xylinus. In this study, a marine bacterial strain named Pseudomonas sp. ef1, isolated from a consortium associated with the Antarctic ciliate Euplotes focardii, was tested for cellulose production. We found that this Antarctic Pseudomonas can produce BC in conditions that appear unique to this bacterial strain. Furthermore, the final BC product is structurally different from that obtained from the well-known BC producer Komagataeibacter xylinus. Additionally, a putative cellulose synthase was identified from the Pseudomonas sp. ef1 genome, exhibiting unique characteristics that may account for the unique BC production capability of this Antarctic marine Pseudomonas. The versatility of BC opens numerous applications, including in papermaking, food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical sectors.