[Sliding motility and biofilm formation in mycobacteria].

Using as a model Mycobacterium smegmatis, a non-motile microorganism, we have studied for the first time in mycobacteria the phenomenon known as sliding motility, as well as the process of biofilm formation. A screen of random transposon mutants was performed in order to identify the genes required for mycobacterial sliding over the surface of motility plates. The genetic analysis described here has been published recently. The genes required for sliding and for biofilm formation (mps and tmtpC) are involved in the biosynthesis of the glycopeptidolipids (GPLs) and their transport to the mycobacterial capsule. Based on our results, we suggest a model for the role of the GPLs in both phenomena.