Hi, Bo Pilgaard ,

This particular compound is called an exopolysaccharide. Usually, exopolysaccharides are produced by many microorganisms mostly growing in natural or pathogenic environments. These exopolysaccharides are found in the microbial cell surface in a formally arranged structure called the glycocalyx. It is usually a highly hydrated matrix and they help the bacterium to adhere to the surfaces. And help them in the formation of surface-associated biofilms. When the microbes are in biofilms these exopolysaccharides matrices acting as ion exchanging matrices traps nutrients for microorganisms and provide protection for individual microorganisms in the biofilm from chemical antimicrobial agents.

Hi, Sandhya Jayasekara

Thank you for the answer. But I have found no reports of glucuronan in the glycocalyx. There is glucuronic acid in the glycosaminoglycans yes, but Im asking about a liniar polysaccharide of pure glucuronic acid. Also, fungi may have a exopolysaccharide layer like the glycocalyx,, but again I see no reports with glucuronan. Very few papers exists that has seen this polysaccharide in the cell wall of a mucor species and in the eps from a bacterium but that is it. This is odd considering how many lyases specific for this are in the genomes across kingdoms and phylae..

Hi, Bo Pilgaard ,

Please go through the following paper and check whether your answer is there. They have done an analysis on this. However, they are compounds with viscosimetric and gelling properties which I previously mentioned roles are applicable. By the way, it is an interesting topic and I think further studies are needed to confirm the exact function of these compounds in microbes because as you mentioned those details are not clearly stated in most of the articles.

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