Extracellular polymeric substance
Encyclopedia
Extracellular polymeric substances, also known as exopolysaccharide
, or EPS, are high-molecular weight compounds secreted by microorganism
s into their environment. These are mostly composed of polysaccharide
s and can either remain attached to the cell's outer surface, or be secreted into its growth medium. These compounds are important in biofilm
formation and cells attachment to surfaces.
Exopolysaccharide
Exopolysaccharides are high-molecular-weight polymers that are composed of sugar residues and are secreted by a microorganism into the surrounding environment. Microorganisms synthesize a wide spectrum of multifunctional polysaccharides including intracellular polysaccharides, structural...
, or EPS, are high-molecular weight compounds secreted by microorganism
Microorganism
A microorganism or microbe is a microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters, or no cell at all...
s into their environment. These are mostly composed of polysaccharide
Polysaccharide
Polysaccharides are long carbohydrate molecules, of repeated monomer units joined together by glycosidic bonds. They range in structure from linear to highly branched. Polysaccharides are often quite heterogeneous, containing slight modifications of the repeating unit. Depending on the structure,...
s and can either remain attached to the cell's outer surface, or be secreted into its growth medium. These compounds are important in biofilm
Biofilm
A biofilm is an aggregate of microorganisms in which cells adhere to each other on a surface. These adherent cells are frequently embedded within a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substance...
formation and cells attachment to surfaces.