Accordingly, the double mutant requires much more exogenous rhamnolipids to restore this phenotype. Cross-feeding experiments with both ΔrhlA mutants were also performed to verify whether swarming phenotype could be regained. Interestingly, when the two mutants are mixed before plating, swarming is restored (Figure 6B, right), contrary to when mutants are simply spotted side-by-side (Figure 6B, left). Discussion B. thailandensis and B. pseudomallei harbor rhlA/rhlB/rhlC homologs for the biosynthesis of rhamnolipids Looking through their sequenced genomes, we found that both B. thailandensis

and B. pseudomallei harbor on their second chromosome two paralogous rhl gene clusters carrying genes highly similar to the P. aeruginosa genes rhlA, rhlB and rhlC, which are involved in the biosynthesis Panobinostat Kinase Inhibitor Library ic50 of rhamnolipids. Interestingly, in the latter species these three genes are arranged in two physically distant operons, while in the two Burkholderia species, they are part of the same gene cluster. The results presented here demonstrate that the purpose of these genes in B. thailandensis, and more than likely in B. pseudomallei, is for the production of rhamnolipids. Genes that share similarities with efflux pumps and transporters are also present within the rhl gene clusters. There is at least one instance of an efflux system implicated in the transport of a biosurfactant.

In the Gram-positive species Bacillus subtilis, YerP, a homolog to the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) family efflux

pumps, was found to be implicated 3-oxoacyl-(acyl-carrier-protein) reductase in surfactin resistance [32]. We propose that the other genes present within the rhl gene clusters are involved in the transport of rhamnolipids outside the cell; we are currently investigating this hypothesis. Under our experimental conditions, B. thailandensis is capable of producing rhamnolipids with 3-hydroxy fatty acid moieties that are comprised of chains varying from C10-C12 to C16-C16. Such long lengths have not been reported for rhamnolipids produced by bacteria other than those of the Burkholderia species, with the exception of one publication reporting trace amounts of Rha-Rha-C10-C14:1 produced by P. aeruginosa 57RP and another describing the production of a C14-C10 form by P. chlororaphis B-30761 [13, 33]. Interestingly, the rhamnolipids produced by B. thailandensis are predominantly composed of dirhamnolipids, whereas monorhamnolipids and HAAs are only found in much smaller concentrations. Although the latter two are produced in smaller quantities by the bacteria, they are nevertheless comprised mostly of the corresponding molecule in the C14-C14 chain lengths. The dirhamnolipid versus monorhamnolipid ratio found in this species is approximately 13, whereas we observe a factor of only 4 in P. aeruginosa. One possible explanation is that, unlike P.