Mechanism for Utilization of the Populus -Derived Metabolite Salicin by a Pseudomonas - Rahnella Co-Culture.

GM16 associates with , a model plant in biofuel production. releases abundant phenolic glycosides such as salicin, but GM16 cannot utilize salicin, whereas strains are known to utilize compounds similar to the aglycone moiety of salicin-salicyl alcohol. We propose that the association of to is mediated by another organism (such as OV744) that degrades the glucosyl group of salicin. In this study, we demonstrate that in the - salicin co-culture model, grows by degrading salicin to glucose 6-phosphate and salicyl alcohol which is secreted out and is subsequently utilized by GM16 for its growth. Using various quantitative approaches, we elucidate the individual pathways for salicin and salicyl alcohol metabolism present in and , respectively. Furthermore, we were able to establish that the salicyl alcohol cross-feeding interaction between the two strains on salicin medium is carried out through the combination of their respective individual pathways. The research presents one of the potential advantages of salicyl alcohol release by strains such as , and how phenolic glycosides could be involved in attracting multiple types of bacteria into the microbiome.