title: Lipid A biosynthesis in Rhizobium leguminosarum: role of a 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonate-activated 4' phosphatase.
abstract: Lipid A from several strains of the N2-fixing bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum displays significant structural differences from Escherichia coli lipid A, one of which is the complete absence of phosphate groups. However, the first seven enzymes of E. coli lipid A biosynthesis, leading from UDP-GlcNAc to the phosphorylated intermediate, 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonate (Kdo2)-lipid IVA, are present in R. leguminosarum. We now describe a membrane-bound phosphatase in R. leguminosarum extracts that removes the 4' phosphate of Kdo2-lipid IVA. The 4' phosphatase is selective for substrates containing the Kdo domain. It is present in extracts of R. leguminosarum biovars phaseoli, viciae, and trifolii but is not detectable in E. coli and Rhizobium meliloti. A nodulation-defective strain (24AR) of R. leguminosarum biovar trifolii, known to contain a 4' phosphatase residue on its lipid A, also lacks measurable 4' phosphatase activity. The Kdo-dependent 4' phosphatase appears to be a key reaction in a pathway for generating phosphate-deficient lipid A.
authors.affiliation: Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens 30602, USA.
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jeyaretnam
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kadrmas
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Raetz
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Brozek
mesh_terms: D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008050:Lipid A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009154:Mutation; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016961:Rhizobium leguminosarum / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016962:Sinorhizobium meliloti / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008050:Lipid A; D010710:Phosphates; C095015:lipid A 4'-phosphatase; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases