The Myxococcus xanthus wbgB gene encodes a glycosyltransferase homologue required for lipopolysaccharide O-antigen biosynthesis.
Myxococcus xanthus is a gram-negative soil bacterium that initiates a complex developmental program in response to starvation. A transposon insertion (Tn5-lac omega109) mutant with developmental deficiencies was isolated and characterized in this study. A strain containing this insertion mutation in an otherwise wild-type background showed delayed developmental aggregation for about 12 h and sporulated at 1-2% of the wild-type level. Tn5-lac omega109 was found to have disrupted the M. xanthus wbgB gene, which is located 2.1 kb downstream of the M. xanthus lipopolysacharide (LPS) O-antigen biosynthesis genes wzm wzt wbgA. The deduced polypeptide sequence of WbgB shares significant similarity with bacterial glycosyltransferases including M. xanthus WbgA. The wbgB::Tn5-lac omega109 mutant was found to be defective in LPS O-antigen synthesis by immunochemical analysis. Further mutational analysis indicated that the defects of the wbgB::Tn5-lac omega109 mutant were not the result of polar effects on downstream genes. Various motility assays demonstrated that the Tn5-lac omega109 mutation affected both social (S) and adventurous (A) gliding motility of M. xanthus cells. The pleiotrophic effects of wbgB mutations indicate the importance of LPS O-antigen biosynthesis for various cellular functions in M. xanthus.
Yang
Z
Z
Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, AL 36849, USA. yangzha@auburn.edu
Guo
D
D
Bowden
M G
MG
Sun
H
H
Tong
L
L
Li
Z
Z
Brown
A E
AE
Kaplan
H B
HB
Shi
W
W
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D020043:Genes, Essential; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009068:Movement; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D016941:Myxococcus xanthus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D019081:O Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010641:Phenotype; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology
D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D019081:O Antigens; D016695:Glycosyltransferases